2002 Besson Vineyard Merlot

The source for this Merlot is a small, family-owned vineyard about a mile west of our winery, where the road begins to curve and dive up into the folds of Mount Madonna. If you keep driving, ten minutes later you’re at the peak of Mount Madonna, looking down on a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean beyond the small farming community of Watsonville. The Besson vineyard Merlot block is hidden from the main road, in a tree-ringed vale next to a small creek that runs through the middle of the Besson ranch. 2002 was a good vintage for this Merlot, with slightly lower yield per acre than the year before, and a relatively cool end of summer for final ripening. Medium dark ruby in color, the wine displays the classic Besson aromas of cassis and cherry, with a slight green-olive or herbal note. Flavors include black pepper and black cherry with a soft lingering finish. This is a food-friendly wine and pairs well with lamb or roast beef. Although delicious now, we believe this wine will improve with a year or two of additional bottle age.