Jackson Estate Jackson Hills Merlot 2021
Our Jackson Hills Merlot is rich and round, with ripe plum, cooked cherries and chocolate flavors. Medium-bodied with a lingering finish. Jackson Hills resides in the Bennett Valley AVA, one of the smallest Sonoma County appellations. This Merlot is on the edge, literally. The Jackson Hills vineyard runs right up to the edge of a southwest facing hillside which serves as a dramatic backdrop and offers growing conditions that are on the fringe. This fringe vineyard site, along with the coastal fog influence courtesy of the Petaluma gap, gives the Merlot an abundance of character.
Acclaim
2018 Vintage
92 points, Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator, Nov 2021
Refined and well-structured, with vibrant acidity to the juicy red fruit and spice flavors that show a minerally verve. Ends with light herbal and savory accents on the lithe finish. Drink now through 2025.
Winemaking
Aged 20 months in 100% French oak barrels, 42% new.
Vineyards
Elevation: 700 - 900 feet
Soil: Mix of rocky volcanic, metamorphic and sedimentary rock with dark brown to brown clay loams.
Climate: Exceptionally cool for Merlot. Long hangtime due to fog from the Petaluma Gap, results in increased flavor, color and rounder tannins.
