Kenwood Vineyards 2009 Jack London Merlot

Delicious aromas of cherry, plum, and fig combine with delicate hints of sage and licorice.  A full bodied wine with structured tannins and an excellent finish.

The Jack London Ranch creates distinctive red wines that have a loyal following throughout the world.  The red volcanic soil and pleasantly warm climate of this hillside vineyard combine to produce rich, full-bodied wines.  Located on Sonoma Mountain with a southeastern exposure, this vineyard is above the fog level and gets early morning sun followed by late afternoon breezes that temper the day's most extreme heat.  The result of this exceptional terroir is grapes of great distinction that make wines with superb flavor and deep, rich color.

 

The ample 2009 vintage began with a cool dry spring that gave way to a mild summer.  The Jack London Ranch Merlot was harvested in late September and early October. The grapes were crushed and then fermented in stainless steel before aging in French and American oak barrels for 22 months. After aging, the wine was removed from barrels and blended with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon for complexity and balance.