Blend: 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc
Vintage production: 600 cases
Legendary winemaker Heidi Barrett and vintner John Schwartz started Amuse Bouche in 2002, taking inspiration from their shared love of the great Châteaux of Pomerol to produce a Napa Merlot of elegance, poise and refinement that would deliver in spades at release while retaining great cellaring potential.
The fruit comes from the secretive Amuse Bouche vineyards, hidden in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains above Napa’s Rutherford AVA. They have the perfect combination of clay, gravel and volcanic soils, giving the Amuse Bouche its unmistakable complexity and structure.
Four Corners Wine:
“The concentrated, guarded and highly exciting aromatics here promise wonders and delights to come, with underlying layers of delicate milk chocolate and a dusting of cocoa adding to the intrigue. It’s closed at this early stage, but there’s going to be a lot to enjoy with a bit of time in bottle. The palate is led by a gorgeous texture with supple and refined tannins and a bright, lifted and joyous energy. The fruit is crisp, crunchy, beautifully defined and extremely moreish. This elegant, feminine Merlot is a thing of beauty and while it’s early days, there’s boundless promised of great things to come.” (Sep. 2023)
