Ondine Chattan Cannonball Eleven Russian River Valley Merlot 2017
About the wine
Luscious, barrel-aged Merlot from your go-to Russian River Valley expert
- This rich, sumptuous Merlot packs a lush mouthful of fruit, like a bite of juicy dark plum or tender, plump raspberry. 23 months of barrel aging in French oak gives Ondine’s elegant red a sleek, lengthy finish that every Angel deserves to try at least once.
- Ondine’s connections in the Russian River Valley run deep. Her long friendships with the area’s top growers helped her source this world-class, hand-harvested Merlot from the postcard-perfect Adam & Eve Vineyard, which has been lovingly farmed by three generations of the same family.
- This scrumptious, acclaimed Merlot is a very limited production, with only so many bottles to go around. Seize the moment to bring home a bottle (or two) – after that first sip, you’ll be thanking yourself over and over.
Best before
This is a wine of significant structure. It is certainly capable of being cellared for several years (5-7) if you're seeking earthy complexity. If instead you prefer for the fruit to dominate, I suggest enjoying it in the shorter term (over the next 3 years). Merlot is the foundation of some of the world's finest and most collectible wines and this one too holds great potential, though the attractive firm tannins and full mouthfeel are showing well now.
Serving advice
A little aeration, specifically a decanter or Vinturri will open this wine up and show its expansive flavor and aroma profiles. This is a big, substantial wine with a fine framework and it may start out seeming a bit muted or closed, so that aeration (or vigorous swirling in the glass) will reveal all the delights it has to share. Absent some active aeration technique, simply opening 30 minutes prior to serving will be beneficial as well.
Food match
Tomatoes with their tangy sweetness and lively acid make a great pairing with Merlot. A simple favorite with this wine is tomato toast with a drizzle of Arabequina olive oil and a bit of garlic. For something a bit more substantial, a mushroom and swiss burger will pair wonderfully as the nutty cheese notes and earthy meat and mushrooms will go well with the dried herb backnotes of the wine but still allow the full juicy fruit to prevail. Merlot is versatile though and pairs well with chicken dishes as well, as long as there is an herb or earth component in the recipe.
Contains sulphites
Always check the label
USA
Russian River Valley (Sonoma County)
Merlot
Fruity Red
14.6% ABV
750ml
Wine profile
Meet the winemaker - Ondine Chattan
Unmistakably one of the North Coast’s top winemaking talents, Ondine Chattan’s worked for wine institutions – famed wineries like Ridge Vineyards, Cline Cellars, and spent decades running famed Healdsburg winery Geyser Peak.
Does Geyser Peak sound familiar? It should – it’s the long-time winemaking home of one legendary Daryl Groom – and it’s where these decades-long colleagues and friends met. They’re still close… in fact, they might collaborate on exclusive wines now and again.*wink.*
Ondine is awestruck by the wine community Angels have built – and she wants to help it grow. “I truly connect to people through the wines I make,” she said. “The stories of the growers, the vineyards, and the process behind the wine are as vital to me as grapes.”
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