The 2003 Keenan Merlot is composed of seventy-three percent Keenan Estate Merlot.Twenty-two percent of the wine is Merlot fruit harvested from the Napa Carneros region. In addition, five percent Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has been added to the blend in order to add further complexity and structure.After hand harvesting, the grapes were de-stemmed, then inoculated with Montrachet yeast. Fermentation ranged from eight to fourteen days before pressing. The ‘03 Merlot has been aged in thirty-three percent new French and American oak barrels for eighteen months.The resulting wine shows intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and cassis. Complex nuances of cocoa and coffee bean emerge as the wine opens up.This is a "big" Merlot that will age for many years to come.