Winemaker Notes
Deep purple in color, the 2009 Merlot offers olallieberry and freshly-baked gingerbread on the nose. Plush tannins overlay a well-formed structure, while flavors of roasted herbs and concentrated mountain-grown blackberries blend together seamlessly. The weighty palate hints that this wine will continue to evolve beautifully with proper cellaring. The finish features lingering notes of whetting stone and blue raspberries.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Plush and richly structured, but with a dense, structured core, offering aromas of red currant and toasty mocha that lead to complex flavors of black cherry and Asian spice. Loamy, ripe tannins sneak in on the finish.
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.