Merlot
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted duck, grilled pork chops, rosemary-infused lamb
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Scheid Vineyards' Merlot is a beautiful expression of Monterey County's unique climate. While the northern Salinas Valley is famously cold and windy, Scheid strategically plants their Merlot in the warmer, southern microclimates of their estate vineyards, such as the San Lucas and Hames Valley AVAs. Here, the grapes bask in intense daytime sun, allowing the variety's signature black cherry, plum, and cocoa flavors to develop fully, while the brisk evening winds sweeping down from Monterey Bay preserve a vibrant, balancing acidity. Crafted at their state-of-the-art, wind-powered estate winery, this Merlot is aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels, yielding a velvety, medium-to-full-bodied red with supple tannins and a smooth, elegant finish.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1972 by Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards is a pioneer of winegrowing in California's Monterey County, operating family-owned estate vineyards that span a diverse 70-mile corridor along the Salinas Valley. Today, under the guidance of the Scheid family, the winery is globally recognized for its commitment to environmental stewardship, with its state-of-the-art estate winery in Greenfield being 100% powered by wind energy. Utilizing these diverse microclimates, Scheid crafts an impressive portfolio of estate-grown wines, ranging from elegant cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to robust, structured reds like their signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Appassimento, and Claret Reserve. Address: 1972 Hobson Ave, Greenfield, CA 93927, United States. Website: https://www.scheidvineyards.com