Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 2016

  • 92 James
    Suckling
  • 91 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 91 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 90 Connoisseurs'
    Guide
  • 90 Wine &
    Spirits
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
4.4 Very Good (108)
2021 Vintage In Stock
49 99
47 99
OFFER 10% off your order of $99+
Ships Tomorrow
1
Limit Reached
Alert me about new vintages and availability
Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 2016  Front Bottle Shot
Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 2016  Front Bottle Shot Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 2016 Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2016

Size
750ML

ABV
14.5%

Your Rating

0.0 Not For Me NaN/NaN/N

Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

A classic expression of Napa Valley Merlot, with a fleshy entry and juicy layers of Bing cherry, raspberry, and plum, along with hints of blueberry, cedar, vanilla, and clove. Underscored by polished tannins, the juiciness of the entry evolves into a lush, silky texture that carries the flavors to a long, generous finish marked by notes of freshly ground coffee beans with a splash of ripe, red cherry.

Professional Ratings

  • 92

    This wine offers aromas of dark fruit, baking spices and soil. Medium to full body with slightly austere tannins, yet fresh and vibrant on the finish. Outstanding, flavorful and focused. A blend of 77% merlot and 22% cabernet sauvignon with malbec and petit verdot. Drink or hold.

  • 91
    COMMENTARY: There is a reason why Duckhorn Vineyards is synonymous with Merlot. Aside from placing this grape variety on the map with the winery's first release: the 1978 Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, Duckhorn Vineyards has been consistent with its Napa Valley Merlot. The 2016 vintage is sturdy, well-structured; and firm. TASTING NOTES: This wine is beautiful and well-framed. Its aromas and flavors of lively and bright red fruit, a shading of blackberries, and an accent of oak should match it beautifully with a juicy grilled T-Bone steak. (Tasted: April 11, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
  • 91

     Blended with 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and tiny percentages of Malbec and Petit Verdot, this is a hearty take on the variety. Full-bodied flavors of black currant and dried herb meld with firm tannins and oak. Textured, richly layered and appealing, it finishes on acents of tobacco and clove.

  • 90

    22% Cabernet Sauvignon; 1% other. A bit of sweet oak and subtle touches of toasted herbs sit off to the side of the juicy cherries and ripe plums that are the central message of this very solid, moderately full-bodied Merlot, and the wine gets equally good marks for both its structure and very sure varietal focus. It is nominally tannic without erring to toughness and shows fine fruity length, and it is bound to be bettered by even a short stay in the cellar with the balance and build to steadily improve for another three to five years.

  • 90
    A plump and plummy merlot, this is soft and generous, the kind of warm, fruity red that will appeal to a wide range of red-wine drinkers. There’s nothing complicated about it, just pure enjoyment with most anything meaty off the grill.
  • 90
    Features a savory edge to the mineral-inflected dried berry flavors, with a creamy richness. The finish offers white pepper notes that are backed by medium-grained tannins. Drink now.

Other Vintages

2021
  • 97 James
    Suckling
2020
  • 93 James
    Suckling
  • 91 Wilfred
    Wong
2019
  • 92 James
    Suckling
  • 92 Wilfred
    Wong
2018
  • 93 Wilfred
    Wong
2017
  • 93 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 92 James
    Suckling
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 90 Wine &
    Spirits
  • 90 Connoisseurs'
    Guide
2015
  • 92 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
2014
  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
2013
  • 92 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 91 Connoisseurs'
    Guide
  • 90 Wine &
    Spirits
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
2012
  • 91 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 91 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 91 Tasting
    Panel
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
  • 90 James
    Suckling
2010
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
2009
  • 91 Wine
    Enthusiast
2008
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
2007
  • 92 Connoisseurs'
    Guide
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
2006
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
  • 90 Connoisseurs'
    Guide
2005
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
2004
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
2003
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 90 Wine &
    Spirits
2002
  • 94 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 91 Connoisseurs'
    Guide
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
2001
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
1998
  • 87 Wine &
    Spirits
1995
  • 91 Wine
    Spectator
1994
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
1993
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
Duckhorn

Duckhorn Vineyards

View all products
Duckhorn Vineyards, California
Duckhorn Vineyards Winery Video

Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting classic Napa Valley wines for nearly 40 years. This winemaking tradition has grown to include seven meticulously farmed Estate vineyards, located throughout the various microclimates of the Napa Valley. Focused on quality and consistency, these Estate vineyards are an essential element in making wines of distinction. Pioneering and perfecting Merlot as a premium varietal, Duckhorn Vineyards now makes several elegant Merlot and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings that showcase its premium vineyard sites. Duckhorn Vineyards has been named one of the “Top 100 Wineries” in the world eight times by Wine & Spirits, and the 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard was named the “2017 Wine of the Year,” topping Wine Spectator’s annual list of the world’s “Top 100 Wines.”

Image for  content section
View all products
Image for Napa Valley Merlot content section
View all products

As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.

Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.

DWC116750_2016 Item# 518235

Internet Explorer is no longer supported.
Please use a different browser like Edge, Chrome or Firefox to enjoy all that Wine.com has to offer.

It's easy to make the switch.
Enjoy better browsing and increased security.

Yes, Update Now

Search for ""