Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Warm base aromas of driftwood, cinnamon and a thread of toffee are topped by juicy cherries and ripe plums. The fruit carries well to the palate, beginning with red raspberry at entry, and leading to menthol, tobacco and tar flavors. Fruit that can be described as a black apple tempers the charred finish. Lush, ripe fruit and firm tannins, melded by mellow acidity make for an indulgent offering.
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Wine Spectator
Smooth and harmonious, with layers of supple, well-integrated currant, herb, tobacco and light mocha-scented oak. An elegant, well-crafted wine that wows you with finesse and grace, offering a pleasing earthiness on the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1999 Merlot Three Palms Vineyard possesses a deep ruby/purple color as well as a striking perfume of black fruits and subtle floral, foresty, and new oak notes. It is full-bodied and rich, with well-integrated tannin, and a long finish.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
One of Napa Valley’s oldest wine growing subregions but last to gain appellation status, Calistoga occupies the northernmost section of the valley. Beginning at the foot of Mount St. Helena, its vineyards stretch over steep canyons and roll out onto the valley floor. The soils in Calistoga are volcanic, which means they are heavy in minerals, low in organic matter and allow good drainage for vine roots, creating less green growth and more concentration of flavor within the grape berries.
Summer days are very hot but most nights cool down with moist ocean breezes sneaking in over the Mayacamas Mountains or from Knights Valley to its northwest.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the area’s star variety with Zinfandel coming in a strong second, though the latter commands far less price per tonnage so continues to be outshined by Cabernet in vineyard acreage, save for some important exceptions.