1997 Havens Reserve Merlot

Havens Winery was founded in Napa Valley in 1984 by Michael and Kathryn Havens. A college professor, Michael Havens wanted to make Bordeaux and Rhone-style wines on their 12-acre estate. In 2006 Havens sold the winery to an East Coast importer, but the ownership of the estate has changed several times since then. Today Havens is owned by Shahin Shahabi, owner of Stonehedge Winery in Napa. Havens produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and red blends.

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros.

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.