Barrel 42 Custom Winecraft - 2021 Merlot, Old Vines, Layne Vineyard

Nicole Shulte and Herb Quady, Winemakers

This is a substantive, structured wine, with a classic profile.  Flavors include anise, plum, chocolate and raspberry, and it maintains an acidic backbone which guarantees that it will hold well under further aging. 

The fruit is destemmed and left 100% whole berry, cold soaked 48 hours. Fermented in small, 1 ton tanks, punched down three times daily, gently pressed based on tannic profile.  It is aged in 100% French Oak barrels, 25% new, 25% once-filled, 50% neutral.  Lees stirred regularly throughout the first quarter. 

AVA: Applegate Valley

Alcohol %: 13.9%

Projected Release: Winter 2022