2016 Merryvale Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Profile

2016 Merryvale Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Profile is the flagship red from Merryvale’s revered Conn Valley estate, crafted to showcase the very best parcels from this hillside vineyard. Sourced from 25 rocky, sloping acres and blended from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc, it captures the power and poise that define top-tier Napa Valley Cabernet. In a standout 2016 vintage, this wine marries intensity with refinement, delivering a classic yet thoroughly modern Napa expression.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 Profile is deep, opaque ruby with a youthful purple rim that hints at its long life ahead. The nose opens with concentrated aromas of blackcurrant, ripe blackberry and cassis, layered with dark cherry, cocoa, and graphite, alongside subtle notes of cedar, baking spice and a lifted mineral edge. On the palate, it is full-bodied and powerful yet incredibly polished. Dense black and blue fruits—cassis, black cherry and plum—are framed by nuances of dark chocolate, espresso, tobacco leaf and wet stone. The tannins are firm but remarkably supple and silky, already beautifully integrated, giving the wine a plush, mouthcoating texture. Fresh acidity keeps everything in balance, leading to a long, persistent finish that echoes with berries, cocoa and a hint of savory earth. This wine has excellent aging potential; while already seductive now with a decant, it will continue to develop greater complexity and tertiary notes over 10–20 years in a proper cellar.

Production
The Profile Estate vineyard sits on steep, rocky slopes in Napa Valley’s Conn Valley, benefiting from diverse soils, elevations and exposures that contribute to the wine’s layered complexity. Multiple clones, rootstocks and microclimates within the 25-acre site allow precise parcel selection, with grapes typically harvested by hand at optimal ripeness to preserve both concentration and freshness. In the cellar, Merryvale employs classic Bordeaux-inspired methods: after a 5-day cold soak, indigenous yeasts trigger a wild fermentation that can peak around 90°F, enhancing color and structure. Maceration lasts 15–21 days before the wine is drained directly to barrel to complete spontaneous malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged for 23 months in 80% new French oak, building texture and aromatic complexity, and finally bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve maximum character and depth.

Food & Serving
This is a serious, food-loving Napa Cabernet that shines alongside richly flavored dishes. Think dry-aged ribeye or bone-in rib roast, braised short ribs, lamb chops with rosemary, or venison with a red wine reduction. It also pairs beautifully with truffle-infused dishes, mushroom ragù, and aged hard cheeses like Comté, aged Gouda or Parmigiano-Reggiano. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. Decant for at least 1–2 hours in its youth to allow the aromatics and tannins to fully open; older bottles may need a shorter, more gentle decant to separate from sediment.

Producer
Merryvale Vineyards, based in the heart of Napa Valley, has been a respected name in the region since the 1980s, known for crafting elegant, vineyard-driven wines that highlight the valley’s top sites. The Profile Estate in Conn Valley represents the pinnacle of the winery’s holdings and is dedicated to producing their most ambitious and ageworthy reds. Over the years, Merryvale has earned a strong reputation for its Bordeaux-varietal blends, consistently receiving critical acclaim and helping to define Napa Valley’s modern, world-class Cabernet style. The Profile label, in particular, stands as a benchmark for the estate and a reference point for serious collectors of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.

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