Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot brings the Right Bank to our part of the world and gives wine lovers a beautiful wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine accurately and lovingly puts Merlot on a pedestal. Its aromas and flavors of boysenberries and subtle oaky notes frame the wine perfectly. Enjoy it with a properly-seasoned Porchetta. (Tasted: July 19, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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James Suckling
A nicely crafted 2017 red with berries, plums and hints of dark chocolate on the nose and palate. Medium body, creamy tannins and a savory finish. Pretty fruit at the end. Drink or hold.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Here is rich, well-mannered Merlot that puts a heavy emphasis on the very specific, black cherry fruit of the variety and comes with a trim bit of sweet oak that serves to enhance its steady and sustained richness. It is moderately full-bodied and fleshy in feel with well-integrated tannins that firm without being at all intrusive, and, if neither as deep nor as far-reaching in range as its companion from the Three Palms Vineyard, it is a thoroughly tasty Merlot, that, if possessing mid-term aging potential, is a polished, well-made example that those who are a bit short on patience are certain to find inviting if uncorked and enjoyed in the very near term.
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Wine Enthusiast
With dark fruit at its core, this wine offers thick, concentrated power alongside accents of sage and clove. The fruit is black cherry and plum, rich enough to be jammy, with plenty of support from toasted oak and baking spice nuances.
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Wine & Spirits
Duckhorn takes rich and supple Napa Valley merlot in an elegant direction. While there may be a lot of juicy blackberry fruit, along with a toasty, smoky presence of oak, both of those elements serve to elevate the texture. Rather than complexity, this wine is all about supple pleasures, with nothing out of place.
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.