It is often said that great wines begin in the vineyard, and the origins of Uvada Merlot offer a compelling case in point.  Each vintage of Uvada brings together Merlot from Andy Beckstoffer’s “Vineyard X” in the Oakville district of Napa Valley, and blends a smaller amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yountmill Pelissa Block.

The Beckstoffer Vineyard X is a five acre triangle of mature Merlot vines planted on well-drained volcanic soils – ideal for the varietal.  The densely planted vineyard is managed for very limited yields, resulting in fruit that is at once rich, luscious, and beautifully balanced.  The origins of the Yountmill Pelissa Block go back to the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff, who favored the BV#5 clone planted there and used the wines from this vineyard in the BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve blends.

Balance and harmony are not only sought in the vineyards for Uvada, but can also be seen in winemaker John McKay’s cellar practices.  Each vintage is matured in a combination of approximately 60 percent French and 40 percent American oak – the American oak adding a bit of spice which nicely complements the abundant fruit qualities of Merlot.  A little more than half of the barrels for each vintage are new, moderating the influence of the oak and fully integrating the oak flavors into the wine.  With the two to three years of bottle age that the wines are typically given before release, they attain the elegant, old-world style that is Uvada’s hallmark.

"'I’ve been making wines for nearly thirty years,” says McKay, “And if someone asked me to point to my greatest success with Merlot, I’d simply pour them a glass of Uvada.  And one for myself."