{"title":"Merus Wines","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMerus Wines\u003c\/strong\u003e is a small Napa Valley winery located in the prestigious\u003cstrong\u003e St. Helena AVA.\u003c\/strong\u003e What was originally a “garage wine” has now transformed into a 10,000+ bottle operation, crafting a unique Cabernet Sauvignon that has been celebrated by renowned critics, from Robert Parker to the Wine Spectator. \u003cstrong\u003eRich, full-bodied, and fruit-forward, Merus Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c\/strong\u003e is a Napa wine lover’s dream, representing an accessible entry to the region’s robust blends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMerus Winery: “Garagiste” Beginnings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMerus Winery was founded in \u003cstrong\u003e1998 by Erika Gottl and Mark Herold\u003c\/strong\u003e in the couple’s two-door Napa Valley garage. The pair named the estate after the Latin term \u003cstrong\u003e“Merus,” translating to “undiluted\" and \"pure.”\u003c\/strong\u003e Herold was inspired by the growing wine scene in 1990s Napa Valley, abandoning his career as a chef and later obtaining a Ph.D. in Ecology from U.C. Davis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAfter graduating, Herold convinced some friends to plant Cabernet Sauvignon on a small Coombsville vineyard, using these vines for the\u003cstrong\u003e inaugural 1998 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon.\u003c\/strong\u003e The vintage instantly dazzled drinkers and critics and was labelled \u003cstrong\u003e\"one of the finest wines of the vintage\" by Robert Parker. \u003c\/strong\u003eFollowing its success, Gottl and Herald developed the estate into a serious venture, earning a cult following before selling Merus to \u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Foley, owner of Foley Family Estates, in 2007.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eUnder Foley, Merus Winery purchased a \u003cstrong\u003e7,000 square foot \"ghost winery\"\u003c\/strong\u003e on Crystal Springs Road near St. Helena. The land, formerly called \u003cstrong\u003eRossini Ranch, was built in 1891 \u003c\/strong\u003eand became a haven for Swiss and Italian immigrants during the late 19th century. Equipped with caves and a winery, the land was abandoned at the onset of Prohibition and was not tended to until Foley's purchase. With immense renovations and refurbishments, the parcel was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility, allowing Merus to grow from \"garagiste\" to upscale, boutique winery. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMerus Napa Valley: Terroir and Winemaking\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMerus Winery operates as\u003cstrong\u003e a negociant in Napa Valley, working with small vineyards\u003c\/strong\u003e to acquire Cabernet Sauvignon for each vintage. The Merus winemaking team, led by\u003cstrong\u003e Michael Beaulac and Sierra Zeiter\u003c\/strong\u003e, works closely with the vineyards to monitor grape development and pick the fruit at peak ripeness. Once transported to the St. Helena winery, the fruit undergoes gentle destemming, whole berry fermentation in stainless steel tanks, and is pumped over several times a day. Furthermore, the Merus team elects to use malolactic fermentation in barrels and ages the wine in the humidity and temperature-controlled caves. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMerus Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe flagship Merus Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from vineyards in\u003cstrong\u003e St. Helena, Stags Leap, and Coombsville.\u003c\/strong\u003e The unique blend of terroirs provides a distinct profile to the final blend; bottles are known for their \u003cstrong\u003edeep ruby color, dark berry aromas, and dense tannins.\u003c\/strong\u003e Each vintage contains around 3-5% of Petit Verdot, but is mainly comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon. \u003cstrong\u003eOnly 500 cases of Merus Cabernet\u003c\/strong\u003e are produced each year, making this wine a highly coveted bottle on the Napa market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eWhen speaking about the wine, critics have celebrated Merus' energy, richness, and fruit-forward flavors. Bottles are known to last for up to 15 years when properly stored in the cellar, attaining new dimensions with each growing year. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMerus Chardonnay\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe Merus Chardonnay has been noted as one of Napa Valley's strongest white wines. With \u003cstrong\u003efruit sourced from Pritchard Hill\u003c\/strong\u003e, the resulting blend features \u003cstrong\u003earomas of honeysuckle and lemon meringue, a delectable creamy texture, and full-bodied mouthfeel.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAdd a Bottle of Merus Wine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMerus Wine is the perfect bottle for Cabernet drinkers looking to add boutique Napa wine to their cellar at an accessible price. Bottle start under $150, providing an excellent cellar addition for discerning customers. Discover your next Napa Valley wine gem today. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0319\/8592\/6203\/collections\/merus_wines.jpg?v=1763072066","url":"https:\/\/grandcruliquidassets.com\/collections\/merus-wines.oembed","provider":"Grand Cru Liquid Assets","version":"1.0","type":"link"}