Winemaker Notes
Blend: 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Duckhorn Vineyards wrote the book on Merlot and have become incredibly consistent in producing top quality Merlots. The 2015 Napa Valley Merlot is right on target. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits beautifully ripened fruit and excellent balance. Its aromas and flavors of ripe red fruits, an accent of oak, and excellent palate tension make it a superb choice with a juicy ribeye. (Tasted: August 31, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
Blended with 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this wine is thick, dense and dusty in tannin. Flavors of mocha, cherry and clove dominate on the well-integrated, full-bodied palate, finishing in dried herb and coffee bean.
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.