Sterling Vineyards

[tandkvd]

I have enjoied reading the post on the Wine Board for a couple of months. I have gotten some good information and laughs. I addmitedly know very little about wine. The Merlots are my favorite.
My wife bought me a bottle of Sterling Vinyards 1999 Merlot for Christmas. Now she doesn't like wine much, unless it is very sweet. And she knows less about wine than I do. But she hit a homerun with this choice.
Can any one give me any info on this wine? And has anyone had any experience with other wines by Sterling?

[winoweenie]

Hi tankdvd and welcome to the board. Sterling vineyards in upper Napa is one of the prettiest winemaking facilities in the country. Located on a hill just south of Calistoga it is reached by a tram. The winemaking facilities are open to the piblic behind a glass walled runway. One of the pioneers of the older wineries of Napa they have had a checkered past. They have had some of the top winemakers inckluding talents like Ric Forman go thru as the winery has changed hands several times in the last 2 decades. Owners of some of the prime vineyards in Napa ( Theur Diamond Mtn Property sits touching Diamond Creeks' Volcanic Hill.) most of the last 15 years have produced many dissapointing wines. Since 97 they seem to have become more dedicated and the wines are going up the hill again.Their Merlot is the most approachable of their bottlings but the aforementioned Diamond Mountain Cabernet and their Reserve bottling in the 97 vintage are both fine wines. WW