Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Description of Domaine Twomey
Domaine Twomey, established in California's iconic Napa Valley, is known for its dedicated approach to excellence and innovation in wine production. Younger brother of the famous Silver Oak, Twomey combines the richness of California's terroir with avant-garde viticultural and winemaking techniques to create distinctive wines. Specializing in Merlot, Twomey celebrates this grape variety with a passion for capturing its purest and elegant expression.
Description of the Cuvée Twomey Merlot Napa Valley
The Cuvée Twomey Merlot Napa Valley is a masterful illustration of the potential of Merlot in this renowned wine region. This wine is the result of a rigorous selection of the best grapes, expressing an aromatic richness, a velvety structure and a complexity that defy traditional expectations linked to this grape variety. With careful aging, Twomey manages to perfectly balance the intensity of the fruit with the finesse of the tannins, offering a remarkable vintage that stands out for its depth and elegance.
Aromas of the Cuvée
Twomey's Napa Valley Merlot reveals an opulent bouquet of ripe red fruits, such as cherry and raspberry, complemented by notes of chocolate, coffee and sweet spices. The subtle integration of oak brings touches of vanilla and toast, enriching the complexity of the wine without masking its fruity character.
Characteristics of the Cuvée
- Grape variety: Merlot
- Profile: A rich and seductive wine, with a smooth texture and elegant tannins. The well-balanced presence of acidity gives the cuvée a nice freshness, leading to a long and satisfying finish.
- Aging Potential: Although this Merlot is immediately accessible and pleasant to taste, it also has good aging potential, allowing graceful evolution and enrichment of aromas and flavors over time.
Pairings with this Cuvée
Twomey Merlot Napa Valley is an ideal companion for a variety of dishes, from grilled red meats to rich pasta dishes and medium-sharp cheeses. Its balance and sophistication make it an excellent choice for special occasions or to enhance an everyday meal.
Where are we traveling?
California
While 50 American states produce wine, Californian production alone represents about 85% of the country's production, making this state the 4th largest producer in the world behind Italy, France and Spain. The climate is strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean, which at this latitude is a cold ocean. The wine regions located near the Pacific have an oceanic climate that becomes Mediterranean the further inland you move from the ocean and it becomes more continental near the Sierra Nevada. Bays and openings to the sea, such as San Pablo Bay, act as thermal regulators on viticulture, particularly in Napa and Sonoma Valley.
The sub-region: Stag's Leap
The Stags Leap district of California's Napa Valley wine region is home to some of the most famous and highly regarded vineyards in the United States. The vineyards here are overwhelmingly dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which produces rich red wines with ripe black currant flavors, a certain freshness and elegance. Located just north of the city of Napa, Stags Leap is in a very special location on the eastern side of the valley. It occupies a narrow strip of valley floor, separated from the main valley by a range of low hills running roughly north to south. Climate also plays a key role (situated 15 miles from the northern edge of San Pablo Bay) the area is well positioned to receive cool, moist breezes that blow north into the valley from San Pablo Bay. These bring the famous Napa Valley fog on summer mornings and afternoons, which provides beneficial cooling on hot, dry days.
The little history of the country
UNITED STATES
In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...). In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.