Winemaker Notes
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot.
One of the guiding philosophies of our winery has always been the timeless union of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and that's also where The Discussion begins. In most vintages, you can develop additional complexity and nuance by adding other varietals. But there are those rare perfect vintages where the other varietals have nothing to add to the conversation, because it's all already there in the Cabernet and Merlot.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Duckhorn's new releases are so good, you might hesitate to make the investment on this Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend. True, it's not the most drinkable of their wines, at this time, but it easily is the most intense and concentrated. Dazzles with a molten core of sweet blackberries, blueberries and cassis, deep and long in the finish. Don't insult it by drinking before 2013, but you're better served by holding for far longer, even into the 2020s.
Cellar Selection -
Wine & Spirits
A selection of three estate vineyards - Patzimaro at the base of Spring Mountain, Rector Creek in Yountville and Stout on Howell Mountain - this is 60 percent cabernet sauvignon blended with merlot and aged in new French oak barrels. The layers and detail those vineyard selections provide are apparent from teh moment the wine is opened, and continue to gain clarity over the course of several days. There's high-toned refinement to the cherry-plum flavor, brightened by scents of red raspberry and conifer. There's also a plump feel to the tannins as they broaden out, carrying the range of fruit flavors in several directions, one of the best wines we've tasted from Duckhorn.
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Wine Spectator
Bordeaux-like in its complexity, range of flavor and structure, this taut red shows mineral-laced dried berry, plum jam, sage, cedar and tobacco flavors that are full-bodied and firm nicely on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2021.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.