{"product_id":"in-vino-felicita-no-brainer-merlot-dry-creek-valley-california-2019","title":"No Brainer, Merlot, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eA really good and fun bottle for a great price.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003c\/span\u003e                                                                     \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eAnna's journey began at the University of California Davis, where she earned a degree in Viticulture and Enology. She spent her fourth year studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. After completing her degree in  California, she returned to France to work the 2000 vintage at Château Cheval-Blanc. She was very fortunate to work for their technical director, Kees Van Leeuwen, one of the foremost viticultural professors in Bordeaux.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAnna then moved to the Napa Valley and spent two years as the assistant winemaker at Seavey Vineyard before working for five years as the assistant winemaker at Bryant Family Vineyard under the tutelage of philippe melka. In 2007, Anna became the winemaker at Piña Napa Valley, where she crafts single-vineyard designate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines and where she makes her Ilaria wines.\u003cbr\u003eAnna and her husband, winemaker Mario Monticelli, make the Stack House, Tether, Brioche and No Brainer wines in Napa Valley. They also have Italian winemaking projects in the regions of Piedmont, Tuscany, Abruzzo. and Friuli-Venezia Giulia and French winemaking projects in Champagne and The Phone Valley. They travel to Europe with their three children to work on their wines there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinemaking is a family affair in the Monticelli home. Mario, was born into a family whose roots as winemakers span four generations. His father emigrated from Italy to California where he worked for over 50 years making wine for Gallo. He introduced Mario to the family business when Mario was a child, instilling in him a passion for cultivating grapes and making wine that defines his life today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMario earned degrees in Viticulture, Enology and Italian at the University of California Davis. He honed his craft working a harvest in Tuscany at Villa Antinori, then spent four years working as the assistant winemaker for renown consultant Philippe Melka for numerous Napa Valley producers. He then spent three years as the winemaker for Quixote Winery and thirteen years as the winemaker for Trinchero Napa Valley before becoming a consultant winemaker and focusing on his own projects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSustainable\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv title=\"Page 1\" class=\"page\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemakers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAnna and Mario Monticelli - In Vino Felicitas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e97% Merlot, 3% Malbec\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eDry Creek Valley, California\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe 2019 No Brainer Dry Creek Valley Merlot offers beautiful aromas of ripe black currant, blackberry liqueur, black cherry and raspberry compote. Layers of purple flowers, mocha, underbrush and loamy soil round out the fruit forward nose. The palate showcases layered texture and finesse. The dark fruit and sweet toasty oak coat the palate with a gorgeous enduring finish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e90 Points - Jeb Dunnuck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eComing from the Dry Creek Valley region in Sonoma, the 2019 Merlot Dry Creek has a solid bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, hints of leather, Asian spices, and a touch of tobacco. This pleasure-bent, up-front, medium-bodied Merlot has soft tannins, tons of charm, and would be a heck of a house red to enjoy over the coming 3-5 years or more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e90 Points - Wine Independent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 2019 Merlot Dry Creek Valley, with 3% Malbec in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out with eager-to-please note of black cherry compote and fruitcake leading to nuances of Indian spices and fallen leaves. The full-bodied palate is rich,\u003cbr\u003evelvety, and seductive, with plenty of freshness to deliver lift and finishing with impressive length. 3\/28\/24\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"KJS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51769601261873,"sku":null,"price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/In_Vino_Felicita_No_Brainer_Merlot_Dry_Creek_Valley_California_2019.jpg?v=1756146285","url":"https:\/\/marchantofwine.com\/products\/in-vino-felicita-no-brainer-merlot-dry-creek-valley-california-2019","provider":"Merchant of Wine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}