The wine was aged in 40 percent new oak (primarily French) for 14 months to integrate juicy, plum, black cherry and toffee aromas and mouth-coating flavors, supported by enticing sweet vanilla, cedar and spice components.

The vineyards used for our 1999 Napa Valley Merlot provided berries with ripe fruit flavors, plush, soft textures and chewy tannins. The wine was aged in 40 percent new oak (primarily French) for 14 months to integrate juicy, plum, black cherry and toffee aromas and mouth-coating flavors, supported by enticing sweet vanilla, cedar and spice components.

Wine maker notes

The debut release of our Napa Valley Merlot is the result of many years of vineyard and winemaking experimentation. Over the last decade, Winemaster Ed Sbragia and I have witnessed the steady development of fruit character in Merlot from our Dos Rios, Gamble Ranch and Big Ranch Road vineyards. Located from the cool southern end of the Napa Valley to the relatively warm microclimates of Yountville and Oakville, these vineyards provide important components that allow the wine to show the broader personality of the Napa Valley. -Laurie Hook, Winemaker

Producer

Beringer Vineyards – The Beginning Our history dates back to the year 1868, when Jacob Beringer, enticed by the splendid opportunities of the new world, sailed from his home in Mainz, Germany to New York. However, New York did not appeal to Jacob and after hearing that the warm and Mediterranean plains of California were quite similar to the vineyards back home, he soon made his way to the Napa Valley. It was here that Jacob Beringer, along with his brother, Frederick Beringer, purchased land for the first Beringer Vineyard in 1875. Beringer Vineyards – Today Beringer Vineyards holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley. It is also one of the very few wineries that survived the draconian prohibition of 1922, which lasted over a decade. The estate is also in the National Register for Historic Places as a historic district, a status it has held since 2001. With its perfect blend of modern technology and age old traditions, Beringer Vineyards still produces memorable wines that continue to bring recognition to the company and all of Napa Valley.