2023 Grand Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County Merlot
CORK DORK WINE NOTES by Eric
Known for its warm, sun-filled days and cooling afternoon breezes, Dry Creek Valley gives Merlot the time and balance it needs to develop remarkable depth, richness, and elegance. This wine immediately draws you in with its engaging dark garnet color and complex aromas of violet, nubuck suede, a touch of leather, and bright, deep black cherry.
On the palate, it’s big yet beautifully balanced and elegant for such a rich red wine. Boisterous flavors of black cherry and blueberry mingle with subtle leather, mellow tannins, and a wonderfully creamy cacao-nib character. Just a touch of oak carries everything into a smooth, rock-star finish.
Like an unforgettable contemporary jazz performance, this Merlot is expressive, layered, and full of soul—powerful when it needs to be, yet always composed. With Mindi’s music as our muse and our daughter Jordyn’s artwork on the label, this wine celebrates the place where family, passion, and creativity come together—where fine wine meets the rhythm of music, art…and life. Perfectly GRAND!
NAME:
Grand
VARIETAL:
100% Merlot
APPELLATION:
Dry Creek Valley
Sonoma County, CA
VINTAGE:
2023
LABEL ARTWORK & DESIGN
by Eric Guerra
We were awestruck by this beautiful Merlot. As we enjoyed it, its boldness and elegance brought to mind the grand piano in our living room. A piano can be powerful yet graceful—its sound resonating from the lowest key to the highest, filling the room and lingering long after the final note. This wine shares that same beauty, depth, and presence. It stays with you.
The label artwork is a nod to the past. We discovered an original blueprint of a Steinway grand piano and felt it perfectly captured the classic character, rich history, and intricate complexity of this wine. For this vintage, we evolved the design with an incredibly beautiful, rich black double-hit treatment, creating a deep, lustrous finish reminiscent of the polished surface of a black Steinway.
A little history, a little detail, and layers waiting to be discovered. Explore the complexity of the Steinway grand piano as you enjoy the complexity of this remarkable Merlot.
MUSIC NOTES by Mindi
When you’re drinking a powerful bold and beautiful Merlot like Grand, immerse in some of the greatest music ever recorded… all featuring the Grand Piano. This is my perfect pairing for our Grand Merlot. Feel the clarity, the beauty, sometimes the complexity, and always the emotion of these artists as they “work” the piano. Artists like Elton John and Billy Joel, Carole King, Coldplay and John Legend will move you and take this wine to the next level. You might have forgotten how much you love the piano… and how much you love Merlot.
Pour a glass, press play, and settle into something timeless.