2011 Merlot

Steve Pride describes 2011 as the coolest growing season ever at his property on Spring Mountain, although October was much warmer than the previous year. Winemaker Sally Johnson adds that she learned quite a bit from 2010 and 2011 with regards to maintaining acidity in the wines. Pride is yet another estate in Napa Valley pursuing a slightly more restrained style than in years past, although the wines are still quite big and rich. As an example of the approach today, leaf plucking is practiced much more judiciously and only takes place at the very end of the season, whereas in the past the canopy was opened up much earlier and more aggressively. In addition to these wines, I also tasted the 2012 Viognier, which I found noticeably reduced.