<H1>2004 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County (750ml) -- Benziger & Imagery Winery Shopping Cart</H1>
<B>$42.00</B>
-- <I>ONLY 5 CASES LEFT! The 2004 Reserve Merlot is very luscious in texture, intensely flavored (black cherry, toasted oak, cassis, and tobacco), and very long and persistent on the finish.</I>
<P>
<IMG SRC="https://store.nexternal.com/benziger/images/BZ-04-ResMerlot.jpg" ALIGN=right ALT="2004 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County (750ml)" NAME="2004 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County (750ml)" BORDER=0 HSPACE=10>
<p>VINTAGE <br />2004</p>
<p> RELEASE DATE <br />March 2007 </p>
<p>CASE PRODUCTION <br />507 cases </p>
<p>AVAILABLIITY Winery Exclusive</p>
<p> VINEYARDS <br />Glen Oaks Sunny Slope Rose Ranch Ricci </p>
<p>APPELLATION <br />Sonoma County </p>
<p>VINIFICATION: Each year, as part of our Reserve program, we select the best blocks from the best vineyards, which are then kept separate through the winemaking process until being selected, barrel-by-barrel, for the final blend. Grapes for this years Reserve Merlot were culled, crushed and cold-soaked on their skins, then fermented in stainless steel fermenters. Maceration on the skins provided maximum extraction. The wine was bottled in September 2006. Alcohol 14.5%, pH 3.73, Total Acidity .54. </p>
<p>VINTAGE: The amount of rainfall, though early, was normal. Dry weather reigned from March, the warmest March on record, to October. The warm weather jump-started the growing season, making farmers nervous (more much time for things to go badly). Things did cool down for spring extending bloom. Periods of long bloom affect uniformity in reds causing a potential of uneven ripening within an individual grape cluster. In our vineyards, we ‘green drop’ to balance the crop and eliminate late ripening fruit at the end of verasion. Summer was moderate without any heat waves; but it was humid raising concerns of mildew. By the end of July it was evident that an early harvest was upon us. High temperatures are not unusual in late summer and early fall but humidity under 20% is very unusual. In fact the average low humidity over the previous five years didn’t go below 30%. Extended periods of hot, dry weather are difficult for a grapevine to endure. With almost two weeks of 10 - 20% humidity in late August and September, mildew was now the least of concerns! Grape sugar was soaring before flavors had matured; our growers did a great job sustaining vineyards until flavors developed. By the end of September we were evaluating an outstanding vintage. 2004 is a vintage of ripe and well-developed flavors with the best overall quality in years.</p>
</P>
<P>
<LI>SKU: 320104
</P>
<P><B>Other products in the category <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Category10" TITLE="Benziger Family Winery">Benziger Family Winery</A> / <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Category6" TITLE="Benziger Reserve Wines">Benziger Reserve Wines</A>:</B>
<BR clear=left><BR><LI><A HREF=http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Product413 TITLE="2003 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County (750ml)">2003 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County (750ml)</A> -- ONLY 4 CASES LEFT! The 2003 Reserve Merlot is very luscious in texture, intensely flavored (black cherry, toasted oak, cassis, and tobacco), and very long and persistent on the finish.
<BR clear=left><BR><LI><A HREF=http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Product546 TITLE="2005 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma Valley (750ml)">2005 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma Valley (750ml)</A> -- Luscious in texture, with layered notes of black cherry, toasted oak, cassis and tobacco, the wine has long and persistent finish. .
<BR clear=left><BR><LI><A HREF=http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Product511 TITLE="2004 Benziger Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County (750ml)">2004 Benziger Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County (750ml)</A> -- Flavors and aromas are reminiscent of dark chocolate, black cherry, black currant, toast, oak and vanilla. Long and ample on the palate, the finish sustains the enjoyment.
</P>
<BR clear=left><BR><P><A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com/benziger" TITLE="Benziger & Imagery Winery Products">Benziger & Imagery Winery Products</A></P>
<BR clear=left><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<BR><A HREF="http://www.benziger.com">Benziger & Imagery Winery</A>
<BR>Benziger & Imagery Winery Online Store powered by Nexternal <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com" TITLE="shopping cart software">shopping cart software</A>
