FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OF 24 BOTTLES OR MORE*   Luxurious & Lingering   Lot 410 2012 Red Hen Ranch Merlot Dear Friends, It’s not very often that we release wines under a single vineyard designate, but today we’re breaking from convention with a fine exception to the norm… Lot 410 2012 Red Hen Ranch Merlot comes from the Red Hen Ranch Vineyard located in Napa’s Oak Knoll District. Oak Knoll is one of Napa’s best places to grow Merlot – it sits atop the valley’s largest alluvial fan formed by Dry Creek (different from the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma), and is basically 10-20 feet of cobblestones covered by a bit of loamy soil, with late afternoon breezes keeping temperatures slightly cooler than the upper valley. The resulting Merlot berries are small and concentrated, producing wines that display a Cabernet-like structure. Fruit from Red Hen Ranch goes into some very high end Napa Merlot, Cabernet, and Meritage programs ($75+), but as always, we aim to vastly overdeliver on quality and price. Whether you like Cabernet or Merlot, I think this steal of a wine will have a broad appeal to both tastes – the final blend falls at 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet. Lot 410 2012 Red Hen Ranch Vineyard Merlot Vintage: 2012 Appellation: Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley Grape: Merlot 75%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Alcohol by volume: 14.8% Cost: $18 Opens with aromas of plum and blueberry fruit, spice, mocha, and crushed rock notes. On the palate, dark blue fruit is wrapped around a tightly wound core of dusty tannins. Fruit, earth and minerality are seamlessly meshed, leading to a long and sustained finish that only begins to hint at what’s yet to come. This is a densely packed and substantial wine that needs a good hour in a decanter, and would definitely benefit from a few years in the cellar. Fantastic with grilled steak. As a New Release special offer, go ahead and take 15% off any purchase of one case or more through Sunday night at midnight (Wine Club members get 20% off) as long as it includes one bottle of Lot 410 (mix and match the whole store!). As always, if you have any questions or need assistance with your order, please don’t hesitate to email us or call 800-805-1971. Cheers!   Cameron Hughes     *Free shipping on 24 bottles or more. Must order in increments of 6 (24, 30, 36, etc) This email was sent to <<Email Address>> . To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails! Manage your subscription preferences or unsubscribe. Having trouble viewing this email?   Click here to view in your web browser.