Two Faces of Napa Valley
We’ve told you all about how C&T winemaker Trent Moffett is a négociant winemaker who tracks down the best available grapes and wines from established producers, at the best available prices. And Trent himself introduced you to the ins and outs of négociant winemaking as a Wine.Woot guest blogger. C&T’s watchword is “the best possible wines at the best possible price”, a philosophy we find ourselves in total agreement with.
So this C&T Cellars 2005 Front Porch Merlot is made from grapes from two different appellations within Napa Valley, Oak Knoll and St. Helena. (That’s one hell of a long Front Porch.) Producers like Blackbird Vineyards are putting Oak Knoll on the map for Merlot. While St. Helena is usually synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon, it also boasts the right conditions for great Merlot. The fact that neither is yet considered a world-class Merlot region is why C&T was able to scoop this fruit up so cheaply. We’re in the lag between reality and reputation here, so enjoy it before everybody else finds out and ruins everything.
Because in a perfectly just world, populated by people with complete knowledge and impeccable judgment, you’d be paying a lot more for this dark, aromatic Merlot. A chocolate, coffee, and blackberry nose is augmented with hints of vanilla. The palate is bigger and richer than noted country duo Big & Rich, with prominent fruit flavors like blackberry and black cherry leading to a spicy, mocha-tinged, mouth-watering finish. Sure tastes like more than thirteen bucks a bottle to us.
Features
C & T Cellars Merlot
VINEYARD: Napa Valley: Oak Knoll District and the St. Helena appellationBLEND: 96% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon V
PRODUCTION: 1,588 cases
Specs
C & T Cellars 2005 Front Porch Merlot 3 PackSpecs
C & T Cellars 2005 Front Porch Merlot 3 PackVendor Details
Owner: Trent Moffett
Founded: 1993
Location: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley CA
Trent grew up in the vineyards of Napa Valley, spending many summers working at family and independent vineyards. Upon graduating from the University of the Pacific with a BA in agricultural business, Trent joined the family business at Livingston Vineyards. There, with his father John Livingston, he learned the appreciation of winemaking from Livingston’s first wine maker, Randy Dunn. Trent’s multifaceted roles ranged from California sales to cellar master. Within a few years, Trent assumed all cellar operations, collaborating with esteemed winemaker Greg Graham from Rombauer (1992-1996), John Kongsgaard (1996-2001), and Marco DiGiulio (2001-2006). Trent worked a harvest in New Zealand’s South Island with Grant Taylor, one of New Zealand’s most honored winemakers. During this time period, he also started his own wine labels. In 1993 he introduced C&T Cellars, a négociant wine label, and just recently he formed Moffett Vineyards in 2005.
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