Description

WINE OF THE MONTH | JUNE 2020

There’s no doubt that long time wine club members will remember the BBO (Black Bear Orchard) Cab Francs we’ve released over the years. A perennial favorite, BBO always made an impression with direct and intense notes of spice, roasted chilis and even green pepper. What’s less likely to be known is that Black Bear Orchard also grows Merlot!

Yes, Cab Franc is what usually comes to mind when we are discussing BBO, but sometimes we are able to source a small amount of Merlot grapes too. Such is the case with the 2018 vintage where we were able to make both. So, does the Merlot meet the expectations set by the memorable Francs of the past? Let’s look at some of the unique features of BBO’s terroir to find out…

The high elevation vines sit directly in the shadow of Mt Lincoln, while also having the winding Colorado River to the South.

Located in Palisade, Black Bear Orchard is a quintessential Colorado Vineyard. The high elevation vines sit directly in the shadow of Mt Lincoln, while also having the winding Colorado River to the South. With warm days and cool nights, this terroir allows the grapes to mature perfectly.

When made naturally, Black Bear Orchard is unmistakable. There’s just something unique about the flavors produced out of the vineyard…

Black Bear Orchard is farmed sustainably by owner Brian Cox. Like many of our growers, he favors natural solutions over chemical intervention. For this reason, these grapes work extremely well with our style of wine making. When made naturally, Black Bear Orchard is unmistakable. There’s just something unique about the flavors produced out of the vineyard…

In the Francs, this has always come across as intense green pepper spice. With the Merlot, the green flavors are less pronounced, instead leaning toward red fruit flavors and powerful tannin. Uniquely, in 2018 we decided to destem a portion of the grapes to highlight the fruit character and soften the tannin. This method paid off quite well as the 2018 Merlot is both delicious now and capable of aging.

Overall, this Merlot is exceptionally balanced. It’s not as intense or as polarizing as the Francs. Instead, it’s layered with plenty of great depth and structure. Slightly less juicy than our other Merlots, the BBO has more dried fruit character. Dried cherry, plum and a subtle spice all make this an amazing wine for grilled foods. With the right dish, this wine comes alive and is truly something to experience. We can’t wait to see how it develops in the coming years.