2022 Yarrow Merlot 6-Bottle Collection
This collection includes 6 Bottles of the 2022 YARROW MERLOT
Shipping Included
Wildflowers have always been a symbol of beauty and possibility at Bell Mountain but never more so than after the 2019 Kincade Fire touched 80% of our 340 acres. When Chris and Bradley James walked Bell Mountain Ranch, they were surrounded by devastation as the untouched forest had been badly burned. The walk took them to the top of Bell Mountain where Bradley entered this into her journal from that day: “the top of the mountain was destroyed but no one told the wildflowers”. Yarrow is a native wildflower that floods Bell Mountain with vibrant yellow each spring and is a constant reminder of our hope for the future and nature’s way of saying it will all be okay. We named our Merlot after this beautiful reminder of nature’s resilience and that the soil holds so much potential when the landscape above is destroyed. The hidden universe below ground remains safe and can bring back in bigger and better ways the plants and ecosystem that lives above it.
The area where the Merlot is sourced are hilly upper slopes with heavy clay soils. Our Merlot is a blend of the Jefferson clone which brings spice and structure, and clone 181 which shows more opulence and elegance.
The 2022 Yarrow Merlot greets the nose with inviting aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, and fresh fig, offering a rich, fruity profile. Warm winter spices, milk chocolate, and vanilla add a touch of sweetness, while a hint of cigar box brings depth and complexity. On the palate, the wine is soft and approachable, yet expansive with bright acidity. Flavors of fresh fennel and cloves complement the rich fruit, creating a well-rounded, flavorful experience. The tannins are smooth but structured, providing a gentle grip and adding to the wine’s overall balance. This Merlot is fresh, inviting, and layered, with a beautiful mix of fruit, spice, and subtle earthy notes. Pair with braised beef short ribs, roasted chicken with herbs, or a savory mushroom risotto to highlight the wine’s rich flavors and smooth tannins.
Vintage
The 2022 vintage hit records in so many ways. We had several rounds of severe frost including in areas where we normally don’t see frost. We had our latest frost on record during the middle of May which caused a significant crop loss. Nevertheless, we had high hopes for the vintage as we got closer to fall. During September we endured a record heat wave in which we had more than 8 days above 100 degrees with one day topping out at 119 degrees. Thankfully our canopies fared this weather well. 2022 is overdelivering on aromatic intensity, full flavor, and gentle tannins. Everything ripened a little earlier and we finished off the season with the smallest and earliest harvest on record, though we think perhaps some of the tastiest.