2016 Meritage
Meritage wines are provocative red or white wines crafted solely from specific "noble" Bordeaux grape varieties and are considered to be the very best wines of the vintage.
Meritage, pronounced like heritage, first appeared in the late 1980s after a group of American vintners joined forces to create a name for New World wines blended in the tradition of Bordeaux. The word was selected from more than 6,000 entries in an international contest. Meritage combines "merit," reflecting the quality of the grapes, with "heritage," which recognizes the centuries-old tradition of blending, long considered to be the highest form of the winemaker's art.
Meritage wines are growing in popularity and are currently the second fastest growing wine category in the industry. They are highly regarded for their aging potential, yet are completely approachable in their youth.
The hot and dry conditions of 2016 produced some of the finest wines ever crafted at Breaux Vineyards. Exceptionally ripe fruit led to naturally high alcohol levels, enhancing the perception of sweetness, richness, and decadence throughout the palate. Bold tannins and deep notes of dark chocolate intertwine with layers of purple plum and black currant, creating a wine that our team describes as “powerful.”
Lower acidity, a result of both the warm growing season and the chosen winemaking style, further amplifies the wine’s lush character. A blend of barrel toasts adds additional depth, texture, and length, while focusing on elevating the midpalate. The result is polished wine that fully reflects the influence of mother nature and the vintage.
Virginia Gov Cup Gold/Case winner – 2021
Aged 14 months new and used French and American Oak. 57% Merlot
19% Cabernet Franc
18% Petit Verdot
5% Cabernet Sauvignon
1% Malbec
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Varietal | Red Blend |
| Varietal Composition | 57% Merlot
19% Cabernet Franc
18% Petit Verdot
5% Cabernet Sauvignon
1% Malbec |
| Appellation | Loudoun County, VA |
| Vineyard | Breaux Vineyards - L, X, M, T & Y Blocks |
| Harvest Date | 10/15/2016 |
| Acid | 4.9 mg/L |
| PH | 3.73 |
| Aging | 14 months new and used French and American Oak |
| Residual Sugar | 0% |
| Alcohol | 14.00% |
| Wine Style | Red Blend |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 06/28/2018 |
| Cases Produced | 495 |
2016 Virginia Commercial Grape Report Season Summary
Virginia’s 2016 growing season followed a generally challenging winter, with significant snowfall and low temperatures in January and February. Three solid weeks of late winter/early spring rains were followed by a late frost in the first and second weeks of April. The late frost was especially damaging to smaller growers, many of whom lost their entire crops for the year. A hotter than usual summer, especially in late July and early August, presented growers with another set of challenges, especially as rain was intense but infrequent during this period.
A late start to winter, as well as an overall warmerthan-usual November and December, extended the time available for harvest, with many growers not completing their harvest before the end of November when students from Virginia Commonwealth University began reaching out to them to collect data for this report. Cold weather didn’t truly arrive until the second week of December, when temperatures stayed consistently below freezing for the first time in the 2016 season.
