2021 MERLOT 

Chris and Heidi Hamilton’s love for wine began long ago, and this wine is both a nod
to their heritage and an ode to their core values of loyalty, spirit and community. It is
the trusted embrace of these ideals that gave birth to Chris Hamilton Cellars, serving
as the totem of their journey, and highlights their commitment to expressing the
inner power and primal nature of wines in their purest form.

appellation
The Napa Valley is an expansive AVA with a variety of microclimates within its
hallowed grounds. The fruit for this wine came from Yountville, the birthplace of wine
in the Napa Valley as it was first planted by George Calvert Yount in 1836. One of the
coolest wine regions in Napa Valley, its long growing season and diverse soil
composition produces fruit of exceptional structure and complexity, known for
varietal wines that have the capability of aging well in the bottle.

vintage & winemaking
The 2021 vintage delivered low yields with intensely flavored, small-sized berries.
Drought-like conditions produced extremely concentrated fruit, loaded with color,
flavor, and tannin. Summer brought cool mornings followed by long days of
consistent warmth without any heat spikes. The fruit was hand-picked on various days
in September in the early morning hours before sunrise The wine was then aged for
18 months in 20% new French oak before being bottled.

tasting notes
Aromas of red raspberries, spiced mocha, cloves, blueberries, freshly cut violets,
and wild sage lead into a focused palate full of red fruits, incense, and tobacco.
There is bountiful freshness and concentration through the entire drinking
experience, all backed by fine grain tannins that provide structure and depth
leading to a smooth and beautiful finish.