Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District 2014

Certain wineries are as dear to us as old friends, because, well, they sort of are. We’ve been aligned closely with Paloma Vineyard since long before ACME opened our doors, and we regard that winery and their perfect Merlot as one of the quintessential Napa icons, right up there with the "Welcome to Napa Valley" sign on Highway 29. We know this Merlot is also dear to our special customers like you, who welcome this wine into your collection vintage after vintage. Jim and Barbara Richards first found this site over 2000 feet above sea level on Spring Mountain, when their friend Dan Duckhorn gave them the hot tip of the century and let them know it was available. The year was 1983. Barbara and Jim had their hands on every step of farming and vinification until Jim’s passing in 2009. Sadly, we lost Barbara in April 2016. Their son Sheldon proudly carries on his parents' dream, and he keeps this family-run business thriving, honoring each vine (all 8,000 of them!) with the same care the Richards family has shown since day one. And along these decades, their Merlot has won just about any accolade a winery might hope to, Wine Spectator’s number one wine of the year, chief among them. The 2014 vintage is 100% estate Merlot and even more gorgeous than years past. It is a big, world-class red wine capable of improving with bottle age for many years. Complex aromas of black berry fruits, chocolate, tobacco, spice and floral notes with mineral overtone. On the palate the wine has a big silky mouth feel, well balanced with flavors of berries, fruit, cocoa, and spice, with a long spicy, velvety finish.