Winemaker Notes
At Blackstone Winery, we believe in creating approachable and enjoyable wines from premium vineyards throughout California. Our 2009 Winemaker's Select Merlot is a fruit-forward, expressive wine with vivid and accessible flavors. Carefully selecting vineyards that showcase the nuances of the Merlot grape variety helps achieve our goal of crafting a distinctive California red wine.

In 2009 conditions were very dry and cool. The vineyards saw a minimal amount of rain, and temperatures remained cool throughout the winter and spring. The cool winter and spring delayed bud break and extended the harvest overall, enabling the fruit to develop slowly. Yields were substantially bigger than past vintages, with excellent fruit quality.

Our 2009 Blackstone Winemaker's Select Merlot displays a bright strawberry nose with expressive flavors of blackberry and cherry mingling with hints of vanilla and smoky notes from oak aging. Powerful yet supple, with a smooth, lingering finish, this accessible wine pairs wonderfully with beef tenderloin, wild mushroom stew, or planked salmon.