2008 Merlot
Mount Veeder
We're giving the wine world a reason to bring back Merlot! Luscious Mt. Veeder grapes give this Merlot complexity, depth and rich notes of chocolate, black cherries and blueberries. Steep, volcanic ash soils above 1,200 feet make for concentrated grapes with deep extraction and concentrated fruit.
20 months in 100% new French Oak
bone dry | very sweet | |
light body | very full bodied | |
soft, gentle | very crisp | |
no tannins | heavy tannins | |
Winemaker, Fontanella Family Winery
Owner/winemaker Jeff Fontanella has been making wine in Napa Valley for 12 years. A graduate of the University of California, Davis, he holds a degree in Viticulture and Enology. Jeff began his winemaking career working in the cellars of Opus One and ZD.
Soon after, he took a position at one of Napa’s great cult wineries, Saddleback Cellars. At Saddleback, Jeff sharpened his winemaking skills under the tutelage of Nils Venge, whom Robert Parker named one of the 20 most influential winemakers in the world. During his tenure at Saddleback, Jeff was able to hone his stylistic approach to winemaking while reinforcing his technical training in the art.
For the last five years, Jeff has been a consulting winemaker for a number of small ultra-premium boutique wine brands, including Carter Cellars, Richard Partridge, Highlands and Melanson, to name a few.
Country born: United States
Education: B.S. - Enology and Viticulture from U.C. Davis
Years in the wine industry: 10-15 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Complexity, balance and depth are our winemaking goals. The primary control built into this is soil type variation. Our theory is that the majority of the distinctive character of the wine is dependant on the soil type and microclimate where it is grown. As a winery, we can influence the wines final characteristics, put our style to it, so to speak, but it is impossible to change the inherent core structure of the wine. Winemaking starts in the vineyard.
Q: Premiere Napa Valley wines are innovative and allow each winery to showcase the region's sense of exploration in fine winemaking. What kind of exploration did your Premiere Napa Valley wine allow you to do?
A: We wanted to showcase the concentration and depth of Merlot from Mt Veeeder. We believe that Merlot from this Appelation can achieve anything a Cabernet sauvignon can.
Q: What was your inspiration for this offering?
A: Merlot is as big and bad ass as any Cabernet Sauvignon.
Q: Fill in the blanks: I chose to make this wine from this particular ______________ because ______________.
A: I chose to make this wine from this particular Mt Veeder because It Rocks! The steep Volcanic ash slopes make a Premier Wine.
Q: Why should a wine lover have a bottle of this wine in their cellar?
A: This is the only Merlot ever produced by Fontanella Family Winery.
3412 1st Avenue NE
Cedar Rapids IA 52402
319-298-9463
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Collection
Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dutch Henry Winery | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Lost Dog | 17 |
Waterstone | 2008 | Red Wine | Los Carneros | Study in Red | 15 |
Astrale e Terra | 2007 | Syrah | Atlas Peak | 14 | |
Fontanella Family Winery | 2008 | Merlot | Mount Veeder | 14 |
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