2003 Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Merlot

Early reports from the winery indicates that 2003 (our second vintage of Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Merlot Wine) will be a spectacular one. The warm summer and dry harvest should yield a wine of great concentration and elegance. The juice was highly concentrated with an ideal balance of structure, supple tannins and ripe flavors.

The Napa Valley Merlot grapes were harvested on September 26 at 25.2 brix; the Cabernet Franc grapes were picked on September 23 at 25.0 brix.in early September. The wine is currently aging gracefully in a combination of new French oak. This Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend is exhibiting all of the 'Pomerol style' elements we for and has been touted as a one of the finest Merlots from Napa Valley.

To complement the artistry of our small lot production, we commission original artwork to grace the label for each vintage. This vintage will feature another original artwork from artist Guy Buffet. While the '02 label depicts the many-layered joys of wine and food as an integral part of life, the '03 art is a tongue-in-cheek play on the them "amusement of the mouth."

View previous vintages.

Accolades for the 2003 Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Merlot

"Screaming Eagle winemaker Heidi Barrett partnered with a friend to produce this stunning Merlot and Cabernet Franc based blend. Silky yet powerful, the wine offers intense black cherry and playful blackberry flavors coated in a blanket of dark chocolate and rich coffee.
- "The Finest Wines, Spirits, Jewlery & Watches - More than 100 of the most tasteful ways to celebrate the holiday season", Robb Report, Holiday Host Guide issue(11/06)

Rated as one of the Best California Merlots - "...this blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc is a limited production (400 cases) wine.... It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color along with a big, sweet nose of roasted espresso, mocha, chocolate, black cherries, and currants. Well-textured, with superb fruit purity and intensity, full body, and a long finish."
- Robert Parker Jr., Wine Advocate (12/05)

NAPA'S MERLOT MAGIC - "...perennial favorite Amuse Bouche; its Napa Valley bottling is a Pomerol-inspired Merlot blend from a partnership that includes Heidi Peterson Barrett. It's wonderfully aromatic, rich and polished."
- 93 point rating, James Laube, Wine Spectator (10/15/05

"Bright ruby-red. Crystallized currant, licorice and menthol on the nose. Round and ripe but not thick or heavy. Supple but tangy flavors of bitter cherry, red licorice, herbs and spices. Expands nicely on the back half. At once creamy and juicy, with good breadth and fine tannins... graceful and fresh."
- 90 point rating, Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar (01/06)

"Rare Napa reds that are priced in the stratosphere aren't novel any longer, but this one offers some unusual features. Most importantly, it is geared more toward complexity and finesse than the unbridled intensity and power sought by the makers of most Napa "cult" wines. Crafted from Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it displays a host of interesting complexities even in its extreme youth, with a core of dark berry and black cherry fruit accented with nuances of cocoa, dried herbs, woodsmoke and spices. Oak notes are impressively integrated with the fruit..."
- 93 point rating, Michael Franz, Washington Post (08/05)

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2002 Vintage