Ehlers Estate has 39 acres of vineyard land that is farmed biodynamically by winemaker and vineyard manager Rudy Zuidema. The terrain is gently sloped, and the property is divided into 24 individual blocks. Ehlers Estate is a “not-for-profit” winery and is held in trust for the Leducq Fountation. Jean and Sylviane Leducq established the trust in 1996 to fund the Foundation, which supports international cardiovascular research. We tasted the current lineup of wines in the shop the other day, here were our favorites:
2004 Ehlers Estate Napa Merlot ($25.99) This is a big, dark, fleshy Merlot that doesn’t dry out in the back end. It is lush and rich, and shows flavors of mocha, vanilla, blackberry and ripe plums. Blended with 16% cabernet sauvignon, this wine shows lots of structure and complexity without being harsh and tannic.
2004 Ehlers Estate Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.99) The Cabernet is a blend of 85% cabernet sauvignon, 2% cabernet franc, 12% merlot and 1% petit verdot. This juicy wine is an explosion of black fruits, vanilla and spicy minerals, which linger on the finish. A great buy in Napa Cabernet for under $30!
2004 Ehlers Estate St. Helena “1886” ($56.99) The “1886” is 100% cabernet sauvignon and is considered Ehlers Estate flagship wine. The 2004 vintage was macerated on the skins for 33 days to contribute to the extreme complexity of this amazing Cabernet. Lots of concentration, balance and depth of fruit will allow this wine to age well over the next 10 years. Total production: 2,380 cases. —Trey Beffa