2021 Assiduous Merlot 'Kells Vineyard'

Santa Cruz Mountains, California

100% single vineyard Merlot. This vineyard is organically farmed by Assiduous Wines and thus the wine in hand is positively Assiduous from ground to bottle. The grapes were hand harvested at 23.2° Brix.  This Merlot started its life off with a carbonic maceration, was de-stemmed after 10 days, fermented on the skins for another 4 days, then it was pressed off at the desired mouthfeel. Indigenous yeasts and bacteria carried out both primary and secondary fermentations.  The wine was aged in neutral French oak barrels for 10 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Analysis:  
Alcohol- 13%
pH- 3.83
TA- 5.25 g/L
RS- 0.10 g/L (bone dry)
Malic- 0.08g/L (fully completed)  

Tasting Notes: Bright red/brick hue. Scents of lavender, anise, rhubarb, and just a hint of bubble gum fill the nose. Secondary notes of strawberry and plum come through as you begin to sip. The palate and the whole point of conducting a carbonic maceration is to create a wine with soft supple tannins that’s smooth and easy drinking.  Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled!\

About Assiduous Wines
Winemaker and vineyard manager Keegan Mayo was born in Hawai’i and raised in Santa Cruz, and produces minimal intervention, food friendly wines with a real sense of place. His first introduction into the wine industry was working for a few summers at Split Rail Vineyard in Corralitos. He graduated from UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Program in 2008. While attending school he spent a harvest with Mumm in Napa as a cellar hand and grape sampler.  In 2009, he spent the vintage with Church Road Winery in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, before settling into a nearly nine year tenure with Testarossa Winery, where he eventually became the Assistant Winemaker. He only produces wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains.