2003 Robert Keenan Winery Mailbox Vineyard Spring Mountain Reserve Merlot

Robert Keenan Winery was founded in 1974 when Robert Keenan purchased 180 acres on Spring Mountain. The property was an abandoned vineyard and winery that had not been in production since the early 20th century. Keenan replanted and rebuilt the property and had his first harvest of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1977. Today the estate is run by Michael Keenan, Robert’s son, with consulting winemaking by Nils Venge, one of Napa Valley’s star winemakers. Keenan grows Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and produces about 14,000 cases annually. Robert M. Parker Jr. has often given Keenan wines scores between 90 and 97 pts and notes that “these are textbook Spring Mountain offerings that possess good freshness, tremendous fruit purity, and impressive quality.”

Spring Mountain AVA is above the town of St. Helena on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. There is no actual Spring Mountain, but the name has traditionally been used for the area, which includes many streams and springs. Spring Mountain was awarded appellation status in 1993 and it includes about 1,000 vineyard acres. Vineyard elevations are high, from 400 to 2,600 feet above sea level. Because of the altitude of most vineyards, which are above the fog line, mornings become warm earlier than vineyards on the valley floor, though the afternoons are cooled by maritime winds. The result is an exceptionally long growing season. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape by acreage, followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay.

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.