Ripasso - Merlot (Petit Verdot - Malbec) 2014

This Merlot is handcrafted from small quantities of fruit sourced from Shinn Vineyards, fermented wild and without additives. Named Ripasso this wine was “repassed” over the leftover pomace of our Petit Verdot and Malbec grape skins for a 6 month period of extended maceration; expressing a dark hue and a rich full body, with notes of plum and olives, earthy, with hints of tobacco leaf, coffee bean and a long finish. 370 cases produced.

2014 Ripasso – 90 pts Wine Advocate The 2014 Ripasso Merlot is "repassed over Petit Verdot and Malbec skins." Bone dry and unoaked, it comes in at 13.9% alcohol. As you might guess from the description, this is a little unusual. This technique is said to produce a bit more complexity and tannin. Some tannic pop is there, but this is not too fierce and everything is in good balance in this wine's youth, even if it is a little drying on opening. Its caressing texture is more interesting still. The flavors are dark, laced with some plum and herbs. Merely medium in body, it still manages to seem a bit bigger than it is at times. It is understated and a great food wine, but it is always persistent. Its fine intensity of controlled flavor is always there. Overall, this is a nice success, another Italian-styled entry from Anthony Nappa. It will be interesting to see how this ages. It might do better than I think. At the other end of the scale, it could use a year to calm down, but it will be good to go in short order. 
2014 Ripasso – 90 pts Wine Enthusiast Made from Merlot grapes repassed, or fermented over, the pomace of previously fermented Petit Verdot and Malbec grapes, this powerful Merlot is imbued with a distinctly bold, textured mouthfeel and firmness of tannins. It's deeply, richly concentrated in black cherry and berry flavors, but there's also an intriguingly briny, umami element that reverberates through a long finish.