2010 Leese Fitch Merlot

About This Wine

Don Sebastiani and his sons chose a special place for their base of operations.

The Sebastiani family name is synonymous with Sonoma County winemaking, so Don and sons established their offices in the Leese-Fitch Adobe, a short stroll from Sonoma's City Hall. Built in 1836, the adobe has been home to a girls' school, a hotel, a military headquarters, and several restaurants and saloons. Now, it houses an international winemaking operation.

The entire area around the adobe — specifically, the town square known as Sonoma Plaza — is steeped in history. The plaza, bordered by carefully preserved adobe buildings like the Leese-Fitch, has National Historic Landmark status.

The Sebastianis decided to pay homage to their historic home via the Leese-Fitch label. Honoring the past while embracing the present is one of Don Sebastiani's enviable traits, and it's mirrored in the 2010 Leese-Fitch Merlot — a wine made in a modern style, but embodying Don Sebastiani's quality-focused heritage.

About Merlot

Similar to Cabernet Sauvignon but with less tannin and fruit. Delivers earlier maturing wines. Often blended with Cabernet; on its own may soften with age, though fruit flavors may fade.

Tasting Notes

• Grape Composition:100% Merlot
• Grape Source:Select Vineyards in Various California Growing Regions
• Aromas & Flavors:Dark Chocolate, Huckleberry, Cassis, Black Cherry, Boysenberry, White Pepper & Vanillin Oak
• When to Drink:Now Through 2015
• Food Pairing Suggestionribeye steak, Cornish game hen, or wild mushroom risotto.

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