We recently had the privilege to meet Armen Khachaturian (National Sales Director) from Ehlers Estate winery which is locate in California’s prestigious Napa Valley.
Ehlers estate is passion, patience, and hard work, intertwined like the tendrils of the robust vines that have been part of the St. Helena landscape since the mid-1800s. Ehlers Estate produces beautifully structured Bordeaux varietals from their estate vineyard located on the renowned loamy bench soils just north of the town of St. Helena.
2 things that stood out for us are the fact that this land is 100% certified organic and biodynamic since 2008; As well as the fact that all their wines are also 100% hand picked by workers, some of whom have been with the vineyard 10+ years.
We had the opportunity to taste 6 different wines but the high lights for us were 2010 Merlot and 2011 ‘1886’ Cebernet.
The 2010 Merlot is often used in the top Sommelier competition held annually by The Guild of Sommeliers.
The Merlot rings in at 14.5% alcohol and a blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. This wine spends 18 months in 50% new french oak. A confluence of intense dark chocolate, red raspberry, a very subtle spearmint, and European black licorice, defines this vintage. The tannins are at once fine and chewy; and the bold, juicy structure of the wine is what has always made the Ehlers Merlot “a Merlot for Cabernet drinkers”.
In 1886 Bernard Ehlers finished the construction of the stone barn that is now the beautiful winery building and tasting room and founded the Estate. The 1886 wine is composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. It is then aged for 18 months before bottling in 70% New Oak and weighs in at 14.5% alcohol. This brilliant, rich Cabernet boasts a deep blue/purple color as well as admirable ripeness, a touch of toasty oak, and copious blueberry, black currant, licorice and forest floor characteristics. Full-bodied and well-balanced with supple tannins, it can be drunk now or cellared for a decade or more.
To add to the elegance of this wine it is bottled in a haut-brion style bottle. This unique shape, reminiscent of bottles used in Bordeaux in the 18th century, was designed by Mr. Clarence Dillon and used for the first time in 1960 to bottle the 1958 vintage. Besides its beautiful, elegant lines, its originality is an excellent first-line defence against counterfeiters.
Although not a lot of their wines leave California we look forward to visiting them in the future and would recommend you do the same!