2020 Stratus Merlot, White Label
The ultimate in terroir, time and intensity
“We couldn’t have made these wines 20 years ago. No one could have,” says Stratus founding winemaker J-L Groux. “This quality level was unimaginable 20 years ago.” “These wines” he refers to are a new echelon at Stratus and bear The Stratus White Label.
The 20-year journey of discovery in our estate vineyard has given us intimate knowledge of each block – each dip and ridge, our mosaic of soils, even each vine. “We’ve learned the microsites, and we understand each one’s synergy with the year’s climate,” explains Groux. With true appreciation for each vine’s individual footprint, Groux, along with winemaker Dean Stoyka, has unlocked the full potential of our grapes.
The Stratus White Label wines are characterized by intensity, complexity and longevity. They reflect both the winemakers’ combined 60 years of experience and their dedication to discovery. “Winemaking simply enhances what nature provides,” says Stoyka, “and by applying our observations and experience, we can optimize nature’s expressiveness by choosing the best parcel/vintage convergence. As such, The White Label wines are theoretically designated at harvest.”
