Premiere Napa Valley Live Auction

Highlights

• The Character represents the pinnacle of Markham Vineyards
• Merlot-driven classic red blend with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot
• Sourced from our Yountville estate located at the southern end of the Rutherford Bench in the heart of Napa Valley, one of the first to be Napa Green Land certified in 2010
• Aging in 100% new French oak for 22 to 24 months

Description

“The Character” is the result of an evolving approach to wine making at Markham Vineyards. While the focus on Merlot remains, this wine represents a blend of classic red varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, all sourced from our premiere Yountville estate. The 2018 vintage celebrated a normal weather pattern and followed the adage that March enters like a lion but leaves like a lamb. The real story is that this vintage was preordained. These grape vines set their crop based upon the conditions from the 2016 spring, much in the same way of fruit trees. That year celebrated record rainfall to wash away the drought here in California. Our vines were able to store away nutrients to produce healthy yields in all varietals. Special care was needed in the vineyard to fine tune crop loads to maintain intensity in the fruit harvested here at Markham Vineyards. Veraison was almost three weeks behind normal and was followed by a cool summer, but fall heat ushered in our harvest after a brief bit of rain at the start. Overall the fruit quality was spectacular, and we have now made a truly special wine.

Wine Facts

• Single vineyard wine
• Sustainably produced
• Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
• Wine is produced in a Napa Green winery