Whitehall Lane
Right Bank
2019 Merlot
Napa Valley
Auction 25 | Lot No. 143
Vintage: 2019
Whitehall Lane
Right Bank
Merlot
Napa Valley
5 cases produced
Highlights
- A Right Bank-inspired Merlot blend from the Leonardini family and winemaker Jason Moulton
- Plush Merlot with blending components of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot
- Merlot has been a focus wine at Whitehall Lane Winery for more than 40 years
- Right Bank meets the best of Napa Valley; the grapes are from four of Napa Valley’s nested appellations
Description
The Right Bank of Bordeaux journeys to the west side of Highway 29 in this supple, fruit driven, well balanced offering that impeccably blends each component together but is defined by the plush Merlot fruit at its core. Whitehall Lane Winery has bottled a Merlot every year beginning in 1981. But, this PNV lot is the very first wine made at Whitehall Lane utilizing the five Bordeaux red varietals. It is Merlot based with smaller blending components Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The winery currently grows all of these grape varieties in their six Napa Valley vineyards. This wine will be aged in a French oak barrel for 20 months.
Wine Facts
- Wine is unfiltered
- Wine is produced in a Napa Green winery
Jason Moulton
Winemaker, Whitehall Lane
Jason was hired in March 2016 and previously spent over 14 years making wine in Napa Valley, Russian River, Canada, New Zealand, Bordeaux and South Africa. He has worked with renowned winemakers Philippe Melka, David Ramey, and Ashley Heisey. He quickly moved through the ranks from cellar worker to cellar master, assistant winemaker to winemaker, most notably at Long Meadow Ranch Winery in St. Helena, Cliff Lede Vineyards in Yountville and most recently at Brassfield Estate Winery in the High Valley AVA of Lake County.
Country born: United State of America
Education: Graduate from the Lincoln University Viticulture and Enology program in New Zealand.
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
In general, my philosophy is very traditional/old world and natural. Varietal typicity is incredibly important to me: Cabernet Sauvignon should taste like Cabernet; Pinot Noir should taste like Pinot Noir, etc.
More than anything, balance is the most paramount element for me in winemaking. Anyone can have aromas and flavors, but balancing out all of the other elements within a wine between the tannins, alcohol, and acidity (amongst others) is critical.
When I have the opportunity, I prefer to use native fermentations and my wines receive extended time on the lees to build mid-palate and weight naturally. I like French oak with a minimum of 3-years air dried cooperage for resolving and evolving any fine oak tannins in the wine. And at bottling, wines should be unfiltered to keep the integrity of the wine and its mouth feel together.
Winery Distribution
Whitehall Lane is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Whitehall Lane Contact: Tom Leonardini, Jr.
Domestic:
- Alabama ( Rush Wines )
- Alaska ( RNDC )
- Arizona ( RNDC )
- California ( RNDC )
- Colorado ( RNDC )
- Connecticut ( Wilson Daniels )
- Connecticut ( Martignetti )
- Delaware ( Opici )
- Florida ( RNDC )
- Georgia ( National Distributing Company )
- Hawaii ( RNDC )
- Idaho ( RNDC )
- Illinois ( Breakthru Bev )
- Indiana ( Johnson Brothers )
- Iowa ( Okoboji Wines )
- Kansas ( Vintegrity )
- Kentucky ( Heidelberg )
- Louisiana ( Paul Bologna )
- Louisiana ( Paul Bologna )
- Maine ( Nappi )
- Maryland ( Opici )
- Massachusetts ( Classic Wines )
- Michigan ( Midwest Wine Exchange )
- Michigan ( Henry Fox Sales )
- Minnesota ( Paustis )
- Missouri ( Vintegrity )
- Montana ( Georges )
- Nebraska ( Quail Distributing )
- Nevada ( Breakthru Bev )
- New Hampshire ( Martignetti )
- New Jersey ( Opici )
- New Mexico ( National Distributing Company )
- New York ( Wilson Daniels )
- North Carolina ( Fine Wine Trading Company )
- North Dakota ( RNDC )
- Ohio ( Heidelberg )
- Oklahoma ( RNDC )
- Oregon ( Galaxy Wine Company )
- Pennsylvania ( Vintage Imports )
- Rhode Island ( Martignetti )
- South Carolina ( RNDC )
- South Dakota ( RNDC )
- Tennessee ( Best Brands )
- Tennessee ( Western Crown )
- Tennessee ( B&T )
- Tennessee ( Empire )
- Texas ( RNDC )
- Utah ( RNDC )
- Virginia ( Select )
- Virginia ( Breakthru Bev )
- Washington ( Galaxy Wine Company )
- Wisconsin ( Breakthru Bev )
- Wyoming ( RNDC )
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