Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A silky red with black olive, mushroom and berry character. Full and extremely soft with velvety texture. Shows beautiful length and finesse. Drink or hold.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Softly balanced, this is an elegant wine, with less than a handful of Petit Verdot that exhibits savory dried cranberry and plum around larger elements of juicy plum and dark chocolate. It never veers bitter or green, staying juicy and supple on the palate.
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.