Silverado Mt. George Merlot 2016
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Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Aromatics of rhubarb pie and toasted paprika. Bright acidity and medium-bodied. A sweet and savory mix of tart cherries, red berries, clove and black pepper spices, with a long, streamlined finish.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
A cool climate and gravelly soils lend character to this ripe Merlot from an estate vineyard named for an ancient volcano. Aromas of rhubarb, slate, and lavender are kind and pleasing on the nose. Bright acidity and vibrant black cherry weave through bittersweet dark chocolate on the mid-palate before giving way to black pepper, soy sauce, thyme, and a satin carpet of berries on the finish. Aged 17 months in predominantly French oak with a small percentage of Hungarian oak.
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Wine & Spirits
Merlot thrives in the cool benchlands of Coombsville, tucked against the hills just east of the town of Napa. Silverado’s estate vineyard consistently produces a quietly rich merlot, this vintage lasting on dark rose scents; its gentle tannins bring bass notes of chocolate bitterness to ground the fragrant fruit. Decant this wine for roast quail.
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Wine Enthusiast
Sharp red currant, plum and cherry tones wrap around a firm texture in this well-structured wine. Rich and full in feel, it delivers softness and touches of clove and black pepper on the long finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2016 Silverado Vineyards Mt George Merlot shows excellent depth without going over-the-top and dominating the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers fresh, red fruit aromas and flavors. Enjoy its vibrant style with lightly-seasoned, grilled pork chops. (Tasted: February 21, 2020, St. Helena, CA)
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Nestled in the hills on the North West side of the Stags Leap District, Silverado Vineyards Winery has been a favorite wine country destination and home to some of the Napa Valley’s most-recognized wines for almost forty years. In 1981, Ron and Diane Disney Miller and her mother, Lillian Disney, established Silverado Vineyards to make wines from the historic sites of the estate the family owns. The winery was named in honor of the Silverado Vineyard, one of the first four in Stags Leap District to plant Cabernet in the 1960s. The vineyard pays homage to the abandoned mining town at the top of the Valley which also inspired the name of the famous Silverado Trail where Silverado Vineyards and other iconic wineries of the Stags Leap District are situated. Silverado Vineyards owns five other storied vineyards across Napa Valley’s top AVAs: Miller Ranch, Mt. George, Soda Creek Ranch (Borreo), Firetree, and Vineburg. All of Silverado’s wines are estate-grown, produced and bottled. Winemaker Jon Emmerich is only the second lead winemaker in the history of Silverado Vineyards and celebrated his 30th vintage with the winery in 2020. Jon has grown Silverado’s reputation for quality and consistency along with his colleague Elena Franceschi, who has been Silverado’s associate winemaker for nearly 25 years. When Diane Miller passed away in 2013, Ron Miller became president of the Board of Directors of The Walt Disney Family Museum, and chairman of Silverado Vineyards until his passing in 2019. Diane and Ron’s children and grandchildren proudly continue to carry their family’s legacy forward as the owners of Silverado Vineyards.
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.