Winemaker Notes
It's forceful personality make it a good match for almost anything a Cabernet would be paired with, a favorite steak dish for instance, yet the wine's tannin structure is soft enough to pair with eggplant parmesan or your favorite chicken dish.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Soft and smooth with lush texture and ripe plum; mellow and rich, velvety and long; generous and lovely.
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Wine Spectator
Fresh and lively, this is the sort of Merlot that made the wine so popular in California. Aromas of red currant and spicy cinnamon lead to supple, rich flavors of black cherry, toffee and grilled herb. Drink now through 2022.
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.