Mount Veeder is Napa Valley’s largest AVA, yet it produces less than two percent of Napa’s total wine production, with the lowest average yields in the region. The mountain is an ancient seabed with thin, rocky soils and 30-degree slopes at varying angles creating several different microclimates that enjoy temperatures ten to fifteen degrees cooler than the Valley floor.

 

Chris Carpenter has a well-respected reputation for vinifying mountain-grown fruit and created classic vintages at Lokoya and Cardinale before taking on the Mt. Brave project, which began in 2007. The eastern-facing slopes of the vineyard produce fruit with tiny, concentrated berries full of lush flavors and rich structural components. The 2019 Merlot is near perfection and a clear standout with complex aromatics, depth of flavors, seductive mouthfeel, and long-lasting finish. 

 

This wine is the epitome of Napa Valley Mountain-grown Merlot and gets Merlot-of-the-vintage for my palate.

 

 

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