Merus
2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Oriens"
Napa Valley AVA
Auction 30 | Lot No. 137
Vintage: 2024
Merus
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
5 cases produced
Description
Latin for the word, “East,” Oriens is a tribute to Napa Valley’s eastern mountain slopes, where first light meets rugged terrain and shapes fruit found nowhere else. Sourced entirely from these elevated east-side blocks, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon captures the precision and tension that define the region. Crafted as an exceptionally rare 60 bottle blend, each component was chosen for its distinctive expression of volcanic soils, cool morning exposure, and concentrated mountain character. Aged in French oak, the wine marries power with polish, revealing fine tannins and enduring structure. Oriens stands as a singular reflection of Napa’s eastern identity—rare, site-driven, and unmistakably Merus.
Michael Beaulac
Winemaker, Merus
Merus and Foley Johnson winemaker, Michael Beaulac, a Vermont native, joined the Foley Family Wines team in 2021, bringing over 30 years of experience working with premier luxury wineries.
Michael began his winemaking career when a chance opportunity presented itself while he was running a Portland, Maine jazz dinner club. There, Beaulac’s career pivoted when Tim Murphy of Murphy-Goode offered him a job one night, partly in jest. The opportunity was one that Beaulac was looking for, and he accepted his offer and moved to Sonoma County, California to work as a Murphy-Goode Winery harvest intern in 1989.
Beaulac spent an interim period at Laurier Winery in Sonoma’s Carneros region working as a cellar master with Merry Edwards from 1989 through 1991. This opportunity gave way to becoming assistant winemaker back at Murphy-Goode, where he spent four years developing new varietal programs for Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. In 1997, Michael Beaulac spent four years as winemaker for Markham Vineyards in St. Helena. Beaulac took his expertise to the next level, becoming Vice President of St. Supéry Vineyards in Rutherford in 2001, working closely with Michel Roland and Denis Dubourdieu. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the Napa Valley, Beaulac became General Manager and winemaker at Napa’s Pine Ridge Vineyards in 2009 where he oversaw the estate’s 160 acres. Beaulac credits his development as a winemaker to working with Michel Roland and Pine Ridge’s high standard for producing quality wines.
Michael’s winemaking philosophy starts in the vineyard. Truly knowing the land, soil, and climate allows him to showcase the exceptionally pure qualities of the diverse vineyard sites throughout Napa Valley. He says of his philosophy for winemaking, “Be proactive in the vineyards. Let the fruit find its balance. Do not force the wine to be anything it’s not. Let it express its typicity. Once in the winery the wine should be touched as little as possible, in a perfect vintage, we really shouldn’t have to do anything.”
Beaulac currently resides outside of Santa Rosa. When he is not in the vineyards, he enjoys hikes with his wife Cathy and their German Shepherd. He also loves to cook and experiment in the kitchen with different recipes.
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 30+ years
Winery Distribution
Merus is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Domestic:
- Alabama (Alabama Crown)
- Arizona (SGWS)
- California (SGWS)
- Florida (SGWS)
- Georgia (Georgia Crown)
- Hawaii (SGWS)
- Illinois (SGWS)
- Kentucky (SGWS)
- Maryland (SGWS)
- Michigan (Imperial Beverage)
- Missouri (SGWS)
- Montana (George's Distributing Inc)
- New Jersey (SGWS)
- New Jersey (Allied Beverage Group)
- New York (SGWS)
- North Carolina (Johnson Brothers)
- Oregon (SGWS)
- Pennsylvania (SGWS)
- Tennessee (Lipman Bros)
- Texas (SGWS)
- Virginia (RNDC Virginia)
- Washington (SGWS)
- Wisconsin (Johnson Brothers)