1998 Flora Springs Windfall Vineyard Merlot

Flora Springs, in St. Helena, Napa Valley, was founded in 1978 when Jerry and Flora Komes bought the former Louis M. Martini Winery. Their grown children joined them and the extended family today runs a 650-acre estate with vineyards through Napa Valley. Flora Springs is still owned and operated by the second and third generations of the Komes family. Flora Springs’ first successes were with Chardonnay but since then the estate has also produced highly regarded reds, including its Cabernet Rutherford Hillside Reserve and other single vineyard, 100% Cabernet Sauvignons. The winery was one of the first in the region to introduce a Meritage-style red wine and its blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, called Trilogy, remains one of its signature wines. About 40,000 cases of wine are produced annually.

Rutherford AVA is just north of the Oakville AVA in the heart of Napa Valley, and it is equally distinguished. It is home to Beaulieu Vineyard and inglenook, arguably Napa Valley’s most historically influential wineries. Inglenook started making in wine in the late 19th century, and Beaulieu Vineyards was producing by the first years of the 20th century. BV founder Georges de Latour is particularly esteemed for having recruited Andre Tchelistcheff, a renowned research oenologist, to move from France to Napa Valley in 1938 and run BV’s winemaking. The legendary Tchelistcheff brought European winemaking techniques to Napa Valley and vastly improved wine quality. Other Rutherford winemakers followed his lead. Today there are 5,000 vineyard acres in Rutherford and many acclaimed producers. The famous Silverado Trail with its exclusive, limited production wineries, runs partly through Rutherford AVA. Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignons are characterized by supple tannins, richness, notes of cherry and plum, depth and the ability to age for several decades. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon the AVA also grows Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. It received its AVA designation in 1994.

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.