Winemaker Notes
Lush and vivid, the 2018 Blueline Estate Merlot opens with pronounced aromas of tangy dark cherry, raspberry compote and warm chestnut, with telltale notes of mandarin orange peel and Asian five spice providing precision and lift. Across the palate, the vibrant red fruit shines, accented by warm blackberry pie filling, roasted nut and hoisin notes. While supple and gracious in texture, Blueline’s mineral-rich soils add defined firmness to its structure and noticeable lift on the finish. The subtle nuances of aromatics, flavor and texture give Blueline Merlot a uniquely wide breadth of food pairing options from Mediterranean to Asian fare.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A rock star of a Merlot, the 2018 Merlot Blueline Estate boasts a deep purple color as well as a sexy, up-front bouquet of blueberries, ripe cherries, spring flowers, candied violets, and cedary spice. With medium to full-bodied richness, a lively, elegant texture, and seamless tannins, it's going to put a smile on your face any time over the coming 10-15 years. It reminds me of a top notch Pomerol from the likes of Marielle Cazaux.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Merlot Blueline Estate is composed of 86% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with compelling scents of baked black and red plums, mulberries and juicy blackberries with hints of licorice, allspice and bay leaves. The soft, spicy, medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of lively black and blue fruits, delivering loads of savory and earthy nuances on the finish.
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James Suckling
Dark berry with chocolate, walnut and some peanut on the nose. Full-bodied with round, chewy texture and a flavorful finish. Lots of fruit here that’s slightly dried in character, with prunes and berries. Richer style of merlot. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Dense, powerful and rich, with plenty of mocha notes to the dark fruit and ripe spice flavors. The chocolaty finish shows peppery hints, with a creamy texture. Drink now through 2025.
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.