El Serra

A 95-point member-favorite, El Serra is a stunning wine that blends fruity notes with hints of spicy herbs into a distinctive, yet harmonious flavor. Winner of the Platinum Medal from the 2016 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, you won’t want to miss this quintessentially Napa Valley wine.

Over the past 40 years, Napa Valley has become synonymous with wine and it’s easy to understand why. The climate during the growing season is as unusual as it is ideal, with daytime temperatures in the mid-90s counterbalanced by cool nights and early morning fog. This fine equilibrium permits a longer ripening period and a balanced acidity development. Adding to this, the Northern California soil is a mineral dense silt loam, which produces the lush, healthy grapes excellent for red wines, particularly Merlot. With perfect soil and climate, it is no wonder the Napa Valley is a winemaker’s paradise.

The El Serra 2014 Heritage Series Red Wine stands proud in that fine Napa Valley tradition. A blend of a number of varieties, Merlot makes up more than three quarters of this vintage, with near equal parts Tempranillo and Grenache providing most of the remainder. The blend produces a distinctive tasting experienced that is finely balanced and multifaceted.

Red fruit and black cherry aromas lead on the nose, thanks to the predominance of Merlot. This is rounded out by hints of black pepper from the varietal blend, and a smoky depth brought on by barrel-aging in French oak. In the mouth, the varietal blend shines through with a riot of currant, plum, and strawberries.