Winemaker Notes
Blend: 83% Merlot, 10% Cabernet, 7% Malbec
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Merlot Blueline Estate (there’s 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Malbec) was brought up in two-thirds new oak and is another beautiful wine from winemaker Tony Biagi. Ripe blue fruits, blood orange, mint, and leafy herbs all flow to a medium to full-bodied, ripe yet also elegant Merlot that shines for its balance and purity. Drink it over the coming decade.
-
James Suckling
A soft and velvety merlot with dark berries and chocolate. Walnuts, too. Full-bodied, round and velvety. Shows merlot DNA. 20-plus vineyard age. Delicious. Drink now.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The deep purple-black colored 2016 Merlot Blueline Estate sings of crème de cassis, dried mulberries and mincemeat pie with hints of wilted roses, fallen leaves, cigar box and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with juicy, plushly textured black fruits and finishes with a menthol kick.
-
Wine Spectator
Rich, featuring concentrated dark plum and cherry tart flavors that are full, with rich, chocolaty overtones. The creamy finishes oozes with lush spiciness. 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.