WINEMAKER NOTES

Our 2019 Madden Merlot opens up with notes of dark fruit and spice on the nose. Elements of dried and fresh cherries, plum, fig jam, and dried rose petals sing on the palate. Hints of white pepper, cedar, and spice linger on a long, oaky finish. This wine will age beautifully for years to come, but drinks wonderfully now.

WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES

Harvested in the early morning to ensure gentle processing of cool fruit, the clusters were hand-sorted, destemmed, and crushed, releasing the juice into stainless steel, jacketed, open-top tanks. The extraction process began from the skins, followed by in-tank fermentation. Finally, once the fermentation process was complete, the grapes were pressed into a tank and then racked clean into a combination of 40% new French oak barrels for 24 months of aging.

FRUIT SOURCE: MADDEN FAMILY VINEYARD

Located ten miles northeast of Healdsburg, CA in the Dry Creek Valley AVA, the Madden Family Vineyard is characterized by cool morning fog and evening breezes which imbue the fruit with unique freshness and a rich flavor. Summertime temperatures average between the mid-80s to low-90s, providing prime growing conditions for Bordeaux-style Merlot.

VINTAGE NOTES

This year began with a long, rainy winter leading into spring, delaying first bloom by two weeks. Fortunately, our grapes were harvested, processed, and fermented before the 2019 fires. This vintage showcases stellar grapes and a bright, fresh natural acidity that captures a burst of late summer sunshine.

THE WINERY

Bailarín Cellars was created in 2014 by a collective of family and friends, each following their respective passions. Together, we focus on producing small lots of handcrafted wines from unique vineyard sources. We are proud to share the fruits of our labor and love with you.