This Merlot blend has the "Four Top" designation in honor of Hitching Post II Restaurant. It is a reference to a table of four for dinner called a "four top."
The wine is a blend of four varietals: 85% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, 2% Valdiguie, 1% Dornfelder.
Merlot in Santa Barbara County does well because it is an earlier ripening varietal in a region with a longer growing season. This provides an extra long hang time for the grapes to fully mature creating deep, layered and distinctive wines. This Merlot, from Happy Canyon Vineyard in easterly Santa Ynez Valley, is rich and intriguing. The judicious addition of Petit Verdot from Rancho Sisquoc (easterly Santa Maria Valley) increases the complexity and structure. This is a wine with oodles of deep berry fruit. 20 months in barrel brought all the elements together.
91 Points/Editor's Choice - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
"This fun and quaffable blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, 2%
Valdiguie and 1% Dornfelder begins with aromas of baked red plum,
cherry, cola and root beer on the nose. The easygoing, fresh palate
offers red plum, red apple, baking spice and pepper flavors."
— Matt Kettmann
