Sign In

2001 Pride Mountain Mountain Top Vineyards Vintner Select Cuvee Merlot

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

May 21, 2023 - $115

Estimate

RATINGS

94+ Robert M. Parker Jr.

Rich, full-bodied and extraordinarily young for a Merlot, this big wine comes from Pride’s high elevation (2,000 plus feet) vineyard. Great acidity and plenty of sweet tannin provide structure as well as delineation...provocative, high intensity, singular Merlot that will make believers out of this varietal’s critics.

94Stephen Tanzer

Denser and more minerally than the regular merlot, with a very different, finer-grained texture rare for North Coast merlot.

93Wine Spectator

...dark, rich and creamy, with excellent structure and tiers of currant, blackberry, coffee, mocha and black cherry flavors...

REGION

United States, California, Sonoma County

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

TYPE

Red Wine, Merlot

The Merlot grape is such a deep blue that it is named for the blackbird. It’s an early ripening grape and one of the primary varietals used In Bordeaux. Merlot is also grown in the "International style," which is harvested later to bring out more tannins and body.