1996 Pride Merlot
The length of the ripening season contributed to the extraordinary character of the 1996 wines. The Merlot was harvested in mid-October at full fruit development and the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest extended into mid-November. Full ripe rich aromas and textures are married with the sweet spice of the finest French oak barrels. The fine balance and extraordinarily dark ruby hue assure that our Merlot will continue to develop in the bottle for years to come.
Pride Mountain Vineyards is located on the very top of Spring Mountain, above 2,000 feet in elevation, at the site of the historic Summit Ranch. The original winery building dating back to 1890 still stands. Currently 58 acres of vines produce grapes for our Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Viognier and Petit Verdot.
Cellar and serve at 58º for maximum enjoyment.
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Profile
| Appellation: | Napa |
|---|---|
| Vintage: | 1996 |
| Harvest: | October 1996 |
| Fermentation: | Stainless Steel |
| Cooperage: | Select French Oak |
| Blend: | 95% Merlot, 5% Cab. Sauvignon |
| Alcohol: | 13.8% |
| Bottling: | April 1998 |
| Production: | 4679 cases |
| Release Date: | May 15, 1998 |
- November 04, 2007 Connoisseurs' Guide, Jan. 1999
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Rating: 3 Stars
BEST BUYS IN THE MARKET", Our pick of the bunch among Merlot values is quite simply one of the best Merlots tasted in the whole of last year and shows why its producer was named CGCW?s "WINERY OF THE YEAR". The PRIDE MOUNTAIN 1996 is as long on fruit as it is impeccably balanced, and for all of its immediate beauty, it will age famously. - November 04, 2007 Connoisseurs' Guide, Dec. 1998
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Rating: 3 Stars
Yet another exceptional effort from our "WINERY OF THE YEAR", this deep, handsome and very well-balanced Merlot is loaded with bright young fruit and makes expert use of sweet, slightly creamy oak as a complement to its essential message of rich, ripe cherries. Slightly supple, if still somewhat tannic, the wine avoids any tendency to softness and, instead, shows the kind of firmness and strength of structure that guarantee longevity and very positive development.Note: WINERY OF THE YEAR is PRIDE MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS set at the top of Spring Mountain. From its dramatically sculpted terraces, Pride Mountain has burst to the top of winemaking ranks with three-star Merlot and Cabernet Reserves, a three-star Merlot, a three star Cabernet and a two-star Cabernet. The winery?s intent to increase output to 18,000 cases when all of its vineyards are in full production is good news for wine lovers.
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