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