Noble Vines 181 Merlot

For centuries vintners have singled out individual vines that produce exceptional grapes. A select few have stood the test of time and have been granted numbers to distinguish them. Noble Vines. BEHIND THE NUMBERS: Of the many Merlot selections registered in California Merlot number 181 rises to the top for its pronounced berry character and fine tannins. This revered Merlot’s roots go very deep – all the way to the great chateaux of Pomerol in Bordeaux France home of the world’s most famous Merlot-based wines. But this vine is very choosy demanding growing conditions like its ancestral vineyards. What makes Noble Vines’ Clay Station and our other nearby Lodi vineyards such a welcoming match for 181 is its perfect soil mix of sand and clay – ideal for both water retention and aeration – as in Bordeaux. Also the stone cobbles interspersed in the red clay allow for deep root penetration which makes for stable vines that withstand periods of low moisture and heat to offer con