Vintners We Love: Mark Herold

	Mark Herold and Erika Gottl of Merus

Mark Herold and Erika Gottl of Merus exemplify the French term, “garagiste,” making tiny amounts of wine out of their garage (less than 1000 cases in any vintage, sometimes far less).  Herold and Gottl have been producing stunning, “cult” quality Cabernet Sauvignon wines since their inaugural wine in 1998, a vintage many have considered the most challenging in recent California history.

Herold has a degree in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine and a PhD in Ecology, emphasizing Nutritional Biochemistry, from UC Davis, the premier school graduating world-class winemakers.  He started his career as the Research Enologist at Joseph Phelps Vineyards, where he helped dramatically raise quality on the celebrated label's wines, including the famed Insignia.  In addition to Merus, Herold consults as winemaker for start-up luxury Cabernet brands whose mission is to produce intense, highly extracted, terroir-driven wines.  Among his many clients are Kobalt, Hestan, Buccella, Harris, and Kamen. 

This is what esteemed wine critic Robert Parker has had to say about Merus’s first three years’ wines, all rated higher than 90 points on a 100-point scale (by both him and the Wine Spectator):

1998: This is a superb 1998, and certainly one of the finest wines of the vintage. It is also one heck of a debut wine from this small operation ... a California garage wine perhaps?

1999: It is one of the top wines of the vintage.

2000: Full-bodied and rich, with well-integrated oak, a creamy texture, and real opulence as well as purity with no hard edges, this is the most evolved and forward effort Merus has yet produced. It should be drunk over the next 10-12 years. This is a thrilling offering from true garagists!

… and then in the 2001 and 2002 vintages, they really hit big with hugely successful, collectible efforts awarded accolades by virtually all major publications, including being chosen as Wine Spectator’s “Pick of the Week” wine in 2002.  Indeed Herold and his consulting winemaking clients have been lauded on numerous occasions in many sources. 

Return to Favorites