Third Century Merlot
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 3 to 8 years from the vintage release, when its vibrant fruit profile and supple texture are in perfect harmony.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roast duck breast, grilled pork chops with rosemary, or classic beef stew.
✨ Technical Specifications
Beringer Vineyards, founded in 1876 by German immigrant brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer, stands as one of Napa Valley's most historic and enduring estates. The 'Third Century' label pays homage to this extraordinary legacy, celebrating the winery's transition into its third century of continuous winemaking. This Merlot is crafted to embody the classic, generous California style—plush, approachable, and deeply expressive. Sourced from select vineyards that benefit from the state's warm daytime sun and cooling maritime breezes, the wine is typically composed predominantly of Merlot, often enhanced with a small percentage of other traditional red varieties for added structure. Gentle fermentation followed by aging in a combination of French and American oak barrels coaxes out rich flavors of black cherry, ripe plum, and dark cocoa, framed by soft, velvety tannins and a hint of sweet baking spice.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1876 by brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer, Beringer Vineyards holds the distinction of being California's oldest continuously operating winery, situated in the heart of St. Helena in Napa Valley. Pioneers of early Napa winemaking, the Beringer brothers engineered hand-dug limestone caves and gravity-fed cellars to craft refined, ageworthy wines. Today, owned by Treasury Wine Estates, the historic estate maintains an uncompromising dedication to site-specific viticulture across prime Napa Valley and Knights Valley terroirs. Beringer is internationally celebrated for its flagship Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, alongside complex single-vineyard expressions and botrytized dessert wines like Nightingale.