Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blackberries, blueberries, forest floor and hints of Spanish cedar. Full-bodied and tight with firm and silky tannins and long and beautiful focus. Goes on for minutes. Terrific wine. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Merlot is a blend of 94.5% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. It has a dense purple color, although not as saturated as the 2015 or 2013, with a beautiful fruited nose of blackberry, plum, chocolate, mocha and espresso. The aromatics are killer and then the wine hits the palate with a medium to full-bodied lushness and an expression that says, “Kiss me!” This is a delicious, front-end loaded, full-bodied Merlot to drink over the next 15 or so years.
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Tasting Panel
The 2014 Merlot has developed beautifully over the last year. Sweet tobacco, licorice, leather and dried herbs add attractive aromatic overtones. Dark, pliant and expressive, the Merlot will drink nicely upon release. If opened young, the 2014 needs a bit of air to come into focus. Like a lot of 2014s, the Merlot has shut down quite a bit after bottling.
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Wine Spectator
There are lots of tarry notes in this big, strapping red, featuring roasted plum and dark currant flavors. Green bean and Asian spice details show on the finish, with muscular tannins. Drink now through 2021.
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.