Frog's Leap "Williams-Rossi" Rutherford Merlot 2019

2019 was a warm, abundant vintage with ideal growing conditions that laid the groundwork for a particularly meaty rendition of the Williams Rossi Merlot. Warmth all throughout harvest accentuated all that was massive and open-knit about our Merlot at Rossi, and thus it was that the more typically conservative old vines in North Creek, fermented in small concrete tanks, provided the best balance between harmonious complexity and the full-throated vintage conditions. A solid wall of cherries, fresh plums and dusty perfume sets the tone for the 2019 and gives lift to the dense, very long palate—more tannic than usual in 2019, but also with a solid streak of natural acidity to strengthen its bones and prevent it from getting monolithic. A touch of barrel-fermented Cab Franc adds a dose of wildness and herbal lift, accentuating the dusty earth of the Merlot. This wine is going to last many, many years, and I encourage you to give it a little air to let it unfold.