{
    "ABV": 14.8,
    "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/wines/840007400871001200600001.js",
    "PH": null,
    "accolades": [
        {
            "imageURL": null,
            "review": "The world’s best Merlot… you might be thinking Pomerol or St. Emilion. Actually, it’s made right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Hollywood may have ruined Merlot’s image for a short while, but Eric Bolen of Bolen Family Estates is here to put the grape back on the map. Bolen is such a strong proponent of Merlot’s capabilities in the states that he makes just one wine, a single vineyard 100% Merlot from Oak Knoll. In what may be one of Gary’s funniest and charismatic interviews, we learn why this is a winery to keep on your radar screen. By the end of the interview, there’s little doubt – Bolen Family Estates is bringing sexy back to Merlot!",
            "reviewDate": 1283065200000,
            "score": null,
            "source": "www.corkd.com",
            "sourceURL": "http://content.corkd.com/2010/08/30/corkd-video-eric-bolen-of-bolen-family-estates-tells-gary-v-how-"
        },
        {
            "imageURL": null,
            "review": "Bolen Family Estates is a joint partnership between father and son, Mike and Eric Bolen. Their family is from St. Louis; Mike has enjoyed French wine for many years and over time Eric also picked up his father's passion for wine. Eric started working part time in a wine shop in St. Louis where the owner created his own wine from California which he sold through his shop. Inspired by this Eric realized if he wanted to further develop his passion for wine he would need to immerse himself in the wine industry to a greater extent. \r\n\r\nWhen you are inspired to follow your passion, sometimes you move rather quickly. Eric moved to the Napa Valley in 2005, attended wine making and viticulture classes at Napa Valley College, \"knocked on a lot of doors\" and by late 2006 had put the wraps on their first commercial vintage. \r\n\r\nIt is rare to find a Napa producer focusing all their efforts on a single wine and even rarer when that wine is a premium Merlot. This is the one wine that Bolen produces each vintage. Eric is on a crusade to \"bring Merlot back\", as he puts it. While Bolen is a new producer they have certainly built their operations with attention to detail and quality. Their two vineyard sources are both from Oak Knoll and include Beckstoffer's Orchard Vineyard as well as fruit from the Jaeger Vineyard. Oak Knoll is an AVA that isn't quite as cold as the Carneros region to the south and during the growing season certainly is not as warm as up valley. As a result the climate here is a little more moderate than the northern and southern parts of the valley and is an ideal area for growing Merlot. \r\n\r\nTheir wine was made under the direction of Art Finklestein (Judd's Hill Winery) for the first several vintages and Tom Rinaldi (winemaker at Provenance Winery) came on board as their winemaker in 2009. Tom has long nurtured a love affair with Merlot (currently makes several Merlot's at Provenance) and jumped at the chance to make Bolen's wine once he discovered they were only producing wine from this varietal. \r\n\r\nWe asked about the possibility of producing other varietals and Eric said, \"instead of making another wine, we can always make more Merlot\" Nice! That they have done - their first vintage was merely 125 cases and has grown to over 600 cases with plans to increase production even further in the coming years. \r\n\r\nTheir current release is their first vintage and dates from 2006. This wine is called their \"Reserve\" as not all barrels may make the final blend. Hang time is critical for the Bolens and they try to keep their fruit hanging later in the harvest to capture as much of the flavor as possible. This is not a blended wine, it is 100% varietal. \r\n\r\nTheir philosophy with their barrel program is to use both new and neutral French Oak barrels (the majority being more neutral barrels). They use just enough oak to let the wine open up, the barrel aging complements the fruit rather than dominates and any influences from the oak in this wine are well balanced among the flavors of the fruit. The 2006 vintage is reddish purple in the glass with an elegant bouquet that is somewhat briary or brambly with notes of dustiness and brown chocolate. As the wine breathes the bouquet continues to reveal additional layers of rich fruit. \r\n\r\nThis is a medium to full bodied wine that is extremely approachable when its young, yet has intense big flavors. It retains its silky smooth structure throughout the palate. The core of this wine has a body that is voluptuous and soft and shows a wide range of both red and dark fruit including blueberry and blackberry. Sweet and fine grained tannins are part of a rounded finish (shows delicate notes of toasted oak) and is just as intense as the palate. Time this finish - it lingers for quite some time! \r\n\r\nBolen's wine is currently made at Silenus Vintners, just south of Yountville; you can also taste their Merlot here. Silenus is home to 15+ producers and they rotate the tastings from their various vintners in their tasting room so its advisable to call ahead to make an appointment. Eric is sometimes in the tasting room on Saturdays. Plans call for some local distribution including Backroom Wines in the town of Napa as well as in the state of Missouri. With a production of just one wine each year it is rather difficult to have a wine club. However the Bolen offer several membership opportunities through their website. For more information visit: www.bolenlegacy.com",
            "reviewDate": null,
            "score": null,
            "source": "www.napawineproject.com",
            "sourceURL": "http://www.napawineproject.com/Napa-Wineries/?id=611"
        },
        {
            "imageURL": "http://nftc.s3.amazonaws.com/classique.png",
            "review": "I’ve reviewed a few merlots, though most have been in meritage blends or as part of what is officially a cabernet sauvignon. Of the wines that are 100% (or, at least, predominantly) merlot that I have reviewed, the verdicts ranged from D to B+.\r\n\r\nI’m not the biggest merlot fan on the planet, this is something I’ve said numerous times. However, I loathe no variety, and am always looking for the merlot to turn me back to the grape.1 I say “back” because the first red wine I drank with any regularity2 was merlot. I drank a lot of it, though not with much discretion.\r\n\r\nBut I digress. The fact of the matter is, I think I found that merlot. I think I found a wine made of 100% merlot grapes, from Napa, no less,3 that has gotten me truly excited about merlot in general again.\r\n\r\nThis may end up meaning I’m disappointed a lot as I drink merlots that don’t stand up to this one, but c’est la vie.\r\n\r\nSo what can you expect from the 2006 B Legacy Reserve Merlot from Bolen Family Estates? A lot. In the glass, the juice is gorgeous, shimmering slightly from ruby red at the core, to an only-slightly-lighter cardinal red on the edges. \r\n\r\nThe nose is subtle, and although the alcohol content is relatively high,4 there is no residual heat on the nose to get in the way. In the way of what? Exceptional notes of stewed raspberry, dark cherries, and a hint of allspice. Very inviting, very nuanced.\r\n\r\nThe B Legacy doesn’t disappoint when you actually go to drink it. It’s medium bodied, with great structure and balance. At first, the majority of the experience is rich, lush, fleshy fruit, a lot of plum and cranberry. Eventually, this wine tastes like Christmas. The cranberry is joined by hints of nutmeg and peppermint that just top off the experience.\r\n\r\nIt’s delicious wine, and very surprising for me.5 Only 120 cases of the 2006 were made, and as you ought to expect given that’s the case, it’s not cheap at $60 per bottle. It is, however, worth it.\r\n\r\nVerdict: A",
            "reviewDate": 1265097600000,
            "score": "Classique des Classiques Badge",
            "source": "www.notesfromthecellar.com",
            "sourceURL": "http://notesfromthecellar.com/2010/06/masterful-merlot-makes-me-melt/"
        }
    ],
    "brand": {
        "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/brands/00871001.js",
        "directoryPageLink": "http://directory.cruvee.com/wineries/Bolen-Family-Estates/00871001",
        "feedLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/feeds/brands/00871001",
        "name": "Bolen Family Estates",
        "shortLink": "http://cruvee.com/b/6t7",
        "ynId": "urn:ynbid:00871001"
    },
    "composition": [
        {
            "harvestBrix": 27.8,
            "harvestDate": 1162886400000,
            "percentage": 100,
            "varietal":             {
                "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/varieties/00111.js",
                "name": "Merlot",
                "ynId": "urn:ynvid:00111"
            },
            "vineyard": null
        }
    ],
    "declaredVariety": {
        "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/varieties/00111.js",
        "name": "Merlot",
        "ynId": "urn:ynvid:00111"
    },
    "declaredVineyard": null,
    "digitalMedia": [
        {
            "URL": "http://assets.cruvee.com/wines/b325e14b26fd4060b7576af410dd2d23_s.jpg",
            "assetType": "IMAGE",
            "largeImageURL": null,
            "mediumImageURL": null,
            "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
            "smallImageURL": "http://assets.cruvee.com/wines/b325e14b26fd4060b7576af410dd2d23_s.jpg",
            "thumbnailImageURL": "http://assets.cruvee.com/wines/b325e14b26fd4060b7576af410dd2d23_t.jpg",
            "wineAssetType": "BOTTLE_SHOT"
        }
    ],
    "directoryPageLink": "http://directory.cruvee.com/wines/2006-Bolen-Family-Estates-Merlot-Oak-Knoll-District/840007400871001200600001",
    "elevage": [
        {
            "monthsInVessel": 26,
            "percentage": 20,
            "vesselCondition": "NEW",
            "vesselSizeLiters": null,
            "vesselType": "FRENCH_OAK"
        },
        {
            "monthsInVessel": 26,
            "percentage": 80,
            "vesselCondition": "NEUTRAL",
            "vesselSizeLiters": null,
            "vesselType": "FRENCH_OAK"
        }
    ],
    "entityType": "WINE",
    "filtered": true,
    "fined": false,
    "kosher": false,
    "labelImageBackURL": null,
    "labelImageFrontURL": null,
    "lastUpdateDate": 1291515297000,
    "legalDesignation": null,
    "marketingDesignation": null,
    "name": "2006 Bolen Family Estates Merlot Oak Knoll District",
    "products": [
        {
            "GTIN": null,
            "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/products/840007400871001200600001036.js",
            "SSCC": null,
            "bottleDate": 1234857600000,
            "buyURL": "http://www.shop.bolenlegacy.com/",
            "caseDimensions": null,
            "casesPerPallet": null,
            "closure": "CORK",
            "containerMaterial": "GLASS",
            "containerShape": "BOTTLE",
            "containerSize": "750mL",
            "containerType": "BOTTLE_750ML",
            "detailURL": null,
            "directoryPageLink": "http://directory.cruvee.com/wines/2006-Bolen-Family-Estates-Merlot-Oak-Knoll-District/840007400871001200600001",
            "entityType": "WINE_PRODUCT",
            "labelImageFrontURL": null,
            "name": "2006 Bolen Family Estates Merlot Oak Knoll District, 750mL",
            "releaseDate": 1241161200000,
            "releaseQuantity": 110,
            "releaseQuantityType": "CASES",
            "soldOut": false,
            "suggestedRetailPrice":             {
                "currencyAmount": 60.0,
                "currencyCode": "USD"
            },
            "unitDimensions": null,
            "unitsPerCase": null,
            "wineJSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/wines/840007400871001200600001.js",
            "ynId": "urn:ynid:840007400871001200600001036"
        }
    ],
    "qualityDesignation": null,
    "region": {
        "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/regions/8400074.js",
        "feedLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/feeds/regions/8400074",
        "lineage": [
            {
                "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/regions/8400257.js",
                "feedLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/feeds/regions/8400257",
                "name": "United States",
                "ynId": "urn:ynrid:8400257"
            },
            {
                "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/regions/8400142.js",
                "feedLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/feeds/regions/8400142",
                "name": "California",
                "ynId": "urn:ynrid:8400142"
            },
            {
                "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/regions/8400075.js",
                "feedLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/feeds/regions/8400075",
                "name": "Napa Valley",
                "ynId": "urn:ynrid:8400075"
            }
        ],
        "name": "Oak Knoll District",
        "ynId": "urn:ynrid:8400074"
    },
    "residualSugar": null,
    "shortLink": "http://cruvee.com/w/7c9",
    "sulfitesAdded": true,
    "text": [
        {
            "description": "100% Merlot form the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley.  Ths wine was aged 26 months in 20% new French Oak.  2006 was the first vintage for Bolen Family Estates.",
            "harvestNotes": "These grapes were harvested November 7th.  We pick our Merlot later than most.   The goasl is to provide a unique flavor profile that is missing from most Merlots.  Our later pick is one way that this wine is unique.",
            "locale":             {
                "country": "US",
                "language": "en"
            },
            "tastingNotes": "This is a medium to full bodied wine that is extremely approachable when its young, yet has intense big flavors. It retains its silky smooth structure throughout the palate. The core of this wine has a body that is voluptuous and soft and shows a wide range of both red and dark fruit including blueberry and blackberry. Sweet and fine grained tannins are part of a rounded finish and is just as intense as the palate. Time this finish - it lingers for quite some time!",
            "vineyardNotes": null,
            "vintageNotes": "2006 provided the perfect ripening season for Merlot.  The August weather was hot and perfect for ripening berries.  Then followed a cool and dry fall that gave the grapes long hang time for flavor development.",
            "winemakerNotes": "We aged this wine for 26 months in 20% new French oak and the balance in neutral barrels.  Our wines are typically aged longer than most Merlots,  We try and let the wine tell us when to bottle, not a production schedule.  Our longer barrel aging allows the wine to soften on the edges before bottling.  This attricutes to the early drinkability of this Merlot."
        }
    ],
    "titratableAcidity": null,
    "vintage": "2006",
    "wineType": "RED",
    "winemaker": null,
    "ynId": "urn:ynwid:840007400871001200600001"
}

{
    "GTIN": null,
    "JSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/products/840007400871001200600001036.js",
    "SSCC": null,
    "bottleDate": 1234857600000,
    "buyURL": "http://www.shop.bolenlegacy.com/",
    "caseDimensions": null,
    "casesPerPallet": null,
    "closure": "CORK",
    "containerMaterial": "GLASS",
    "containerShape": "BOTTLE",
    "containerSize": "750mL",
    "containerType": "BOTTLE_750ML",
    "detailURL": null,
    "directoryPageLink": "http://directory.cruvee.com/wines/2006-Bolen-Family-Estates-Merlot-Oak-Knoll-District/840007400871001200600001",
    "entityType": "WINE_PRODUCT",
    "labelImageFrontURL": null,
    "name": "2006 Bolen Family Estates Merlot Oak Knoll District, 750mL",
    "references": [
    ],
    "releaseDate": 1241161200000,
    "releaseQuantity": 110,
    "releaseQuantityType": "CASES",
    "soldOut": false,
    "suggestedRetailPrice": {
        "currencyAmount": 60.0,
        "currencyCode": "USD"
    },
    "unitDimensions": null,
    "unitsPerCase": null,
    "wineJSONLink": "http://apiv1.cruvee.com/wines/840007400871001200600001.js",
    "ynId": "urn:ynid:840007400871001200600001036"
}