Hall Napa Valley Merlot 2016
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Wilfred
Wong
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Winemaker Notes
Displaying a deep garnet hue, this wine teems with pronounced aromas of raspberry, black cherry, and cocoa with hints of violet, black spice, and cola. The palate possesses a laser focus of black raspberry jam melded with rose petal and mocha. While the flavors are rich and persistent, this wine is in no way heavy or clumsy. It is well-defined and well-balanced straight through its eloquent finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The Hall wines are about richness and balance. The 2016 Merlot exhibits both of those attributes. TASTING NOTES: This wine is layered, yet sleek. Its tightly-focused aromas and flavors of bright red and black fruit should pair it well with duck confit. (Tasted: August 28, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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Hall Wines is located in Napa Valley and employs organic small-vine viticulture, precision winemaking, wild-yeast fermentation and micro-block blending to fully extract the purity and quintessence of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Their estate vineyards encompass more than 300 acres of classic Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. The Halls have a strong respect for the environment and a commitment to cutting edge technology to yield the highest quality grapes. Through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards, Hall wines are able to express the unique and diverse character of Napa Valley's soils and climate.
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.