TURNING LEAF MERLOT 750

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon have a lot of flavor in common the velvety richness of blackberries, blueberries and boysenberries, layered with a splash of succulent black cherry. The place where Cabs and Merlots part company lies in their texture and weight. Cabernet Sauvignon is fuller in body and, as a result, requires more structure to keep itself in balance. By comparison, Merlot uses softness, a silky feel in the mouth and less tannin, to distinguish itself in the glass. This is why Merlot is easy to like, but difficult to make, if you're a winemaker. Turning Leaf Merlot is grown and harvested in vineyards around Lodi, California, because the quality of the fruit is such that flavor, balance and texture all the things good Merlot needs to shine can be achieved in the vineyards. When character comes from the vine, the winemaker's work in the cellar focuses on preserving as much of that natural quality as possible for the finished wine.