2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley

2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley

MAROON

RESERVE MERLOT
SINGLE VINEYARD
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley
One of the leading factors in Maroon Winery’s success is its ability to identify properties capable of producing world-class grapes. They chose the historic Nichelini property for their Reserve Merlot. Nichelini is the oldest family-owned winery in Napa Valley and is not far from Kuleto Estate, Chappellet, Continuum, and Gandona. The wine perfectly balances power and elegance, and at our price, I recommend loading up. 
 
Nichelini’s vineyard sits at around 1,000′ in elevation, and the temperatures there are cooler than the Valley floor, providing ideal conditions for Merlot grapes to retain their natural acidity. Paul Maroon chose this site because he believed the vineyard’s unique climate was similar to Bordeaux.
 
This stunning Merlot emerges from one of Napa Valley’s top vintages, which the Wine Spectator describes as producing “Small crop… with deep dark fruit and spice flavors.” If you’re looking for a powerful yet elegant Merlot that you probably won’t find in your neighbor’s cellar, this is it. There were just 130 cases produced.
 
MAROON
RESERVE MERLOT
SINGLE VINEYARD
2015 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“Smooth, supple and elegant, this beautiful Merlot from Maroon has aromas of cassis, cherry pie, sage, violets, glove leather, spearmint, and sweet vanilla spice. On the palate, a seamless blend of black plums, crushed cherries, and fresh herbs lead to a balanced and lush finish with bright cherries right at the end.”
92 Points
 
“This delightful Merlot has aromas of fully ripened black cherry and plum intermingled with an appealing ray of slight spice and vanilla. The texture of the wine is very smooth from front to finish with a well-rounded texture on the midpalate. The tannins evolve and soften, resulting in a long, soft finale.”
130 cases produced
2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa Valley

LATERAL 

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa ValleyLateral is a wine inspired by the Bordeaux region of St. Emilion and influenced by the interplay and tension created between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Proprietor Marty Mathis, whom you might recognize from his super high-scoring Kathryn Kennedy wines, decided to showcase how each of these iconic grapes can harmonize to compliment yet contrast each other way that’s different from other Bordeaux style blends, and the results simply have to be tasted.  

 
Lateral’s 2016 vintage slants towards cooler-climate, expressive vineyards, primarily located in the Southern portion of Napa Valley. On the palate, it’s a highly detailed wine with spiced red fruits, wild mint, rock minerals, rose and cocoa dusted plum. 
 
A stunning example of just how inspiring Right Bank influenced blends from Napa Valley can be, Marty loves to showcase the lush textures and richness of Merlot entirely opposing the aromatic qualities and structure of Cabernet Franc.  At under $40, you might grab a case quickly, before this deal goes sideways.
 
LATERAL 
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
 
“Very deep dark royal purple color. Classic Bordeaux style nose with tobacco leaf herb notes and dark brooding black berry aromas plus hints of cherry cream candies. Ideal amounts of subtle creamy oak barrel influences. Soft ripe plums, vanilla cream and loamy earth notes are complex and very inviting. Fresh but rich in the mouth (like so many wines of 2016), lithe and elegant mouth-feel leads to cranberry, minerals and dark cocoa flavors. Tannins are still youthful and acid balance portends well for cellar development; This is a bigger style of LATERAL to be en- joyed now and over a longer period of years”  67% Merlot | Cabernet Franc 33%
2015 Il Borro Toscana Tuscany, Italy

2015 Il Borro Toscana Tuscany, Italy

IL BORRO

2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY 

2015 Il Borro Toscana Tuscany, Italy

The Ferragamo’s are icons in the fashion industry with a heritage of creativity and utmost quality. They’ve carried those same hallmarks that brought them success in their luxury goods company over to wine, and the results speak for themselves. Their 2015 Il Borro is one of the highest-scoring Tuscan blends under $100, having earned high 90s scores from both James Suckling and Robert Parker. This wine is one of the least expensive ways to enjoy a piece of the Ferragamo lifestyle.
 
Moving another step closer to their goal of producing the best Bordeaux like blend outside of Bordeaux, and with a monster 97 Point score, Salvatore Ferragamo’s Il Borro comes from their family estate in Tuscany, and like their clothing line, it’s powerfully bold, yet gorgeously elegant and remarkably detailed. 
 
The 2015 laces together 50% Merlot, dressed with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, then precisely threaded with other varietals. After meticulously hand sorting each grape, the wine is sent gravity flow into the tank where the wine team removes 10-20% of the juice to increase concentration.
 
IL BORRO
2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $59.99
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“This is the best Il Borro to date with fantastic blackberry, blueberry and sandalwood aromas that follow through to a full body with masses of fruit. Yet, it remains bright and linear down the center palate. A rich and toned wine. 50 per cent merlot, 35 per cent cabernet and 15 per cent syrah…”  97 Points
 
 
“This robust Tuscan blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah is Il Borro’s flagship wine. The 2015 Il Borro is an important and thickly enriched expression that shows ample power and muscle but remains elegantly modulated and contoured at the same time. The bouquet opens to dark fruit, blackberry, prune, spice, leather and tar. In the mouth, this wine is richly textured, velvety and concentrated, and it delivers balanced tannins and acidity. Il Borro has beautifully captured the warmth and exuberance of the terrific 2015 vintage.” 96 Points
2016 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

2016 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

DUCKHORN  2016 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

2016 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY

 
Duckhorn Vineyards unquestionably dominates the category of California Merlot, and they’ve done so for the last 40 years.  It’s their unwavering consistency that’s made them a mainstay in our shop, and that same level of dependability and value that thrusts them into the forefront on wine lists and in shops across the country.  I can think of no other wine brand that defines iconic for a varietal than Duckhorn does for Merlot. The newly released 2016 vintage is complemented with 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s even bigger, richer and more full-bodied than the previous couple of vintages.  Our panel was quite literally stunned by the even higher quality, and we can’t wait to start pouring this by the glass in Yountville.
 
A classic expression of Napa Valley Merlot, the 2016 offers a seamless combination of concentrated fruit, wrapped in a rich, supple elegance.  The bouquet has terrific intensity, offering detailed black cherries, freshly picked blackberries, black tea and wild rose.  Held in oak barrels for 15 months the 2016 is powerful and really easy to love…
 
 
DUCKHORN
2016 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $56/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl

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YOU SAVE 20%
 
Tasting Notes:The 2016 growing season yielded a beautifully complex expression of Napa Valley Merlot, with inviting aromas of fresh black raspberry, vanilla, tea leaves, pie crust and licorice. On the palate, luxurious red-fruit flavors of strawberry, plum, Bing cherry and loganberry are supported by silky tannins and a bright, mouthwatering acidity that carries the wine to a lingering finish, with hints of maple, cedar and sweet spice.”
 
Customers that enjoy Duckhorn Napa Merlot may also enjoy these two terrific wines from Duckhorn Wine Co… 
2015 Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot
DUCKHORN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $78.00/btl
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl

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Winery Notes:Beginning with a gorgeous nose of boysenberry, cherry, strawberry, cedar, sage and licorice, this lush and lively Cabernet captures the rich diversity of Napa Valley. On the palate, the alluring fruit flavors are underscored by bright acidity, firm polished tannins and notes of fig, licorice and cinnamon that linger on the well-structured finish.
DUCKHORN
2016 THREE PALMS
NAPA VALLEY MERLOT
Retails at: $110.00/btl
 
Your Price: $99.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Once again, the revered Three Palms Vineyard has yielded a benchmark expression of New World Merlot, with a complex, age-worthy structure, silken tannins, and radiant fruit. On the nose, aromas of huckleberry, plum, Bing cherry, cinnamon and rose petals are underscored by hints of cocoa and sweet French oak. As it evolves in the glass, flavors of cardamom, cranberry, blueberry and figs are revealed, as well as elements of earthy minerality that add drama to the long, complex finish.”

Inventory Reduction ~ All Red Other Than Cabs & Cab Blends

 
We have an absolutely spectacular array of reds that don’t fit into the Cabernet realm, from plush and juicy Merlots to rich and spicy Syrahs, firm and gripping Barolo to silky and complex red Burgundies and everything in between. Helping to clear room for next year’s new releases, our 2018 Inventory Reduction is the biggest ever. 
 
With thousands of bottles of wine that have to move, this is the last of 3 days of dramatic discounts, making this a wonderful opportunity to try out some new amazing wines and re-stock your cellar for 2019. 
 
Each day we’ve focused on a specific area of the warehouse, and today is all the reds of the world that don’t include Cabernet and Cab blends…  
 
Offer valid through 12-31-18 at 12:00PM PST and only while supplies last.
 
2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot

2014 Barlow Calistoga Merlot

BARLOW

2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA

2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot
Many of California’s best Merlots come from the sleepy town of Calistoga, on the Northern-most end of Napa Valley.  The area is distinguished by volcanic soils and the largest diurnal temperature variation in Napa Valley.  Daytime highs and night time lows span up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and while the hot daytime temperatures allow the grapes to develop deep and compelling flavors, the cool nights help to maintain acidity and structure.  With all of the contributing factors working in unison, this area has proven that it can produce some of the best Merlot in California… Just look at last year’s #1 wine in the Wine Spectator.  Interestingly, Duckhorn’s iconic 3 Palms Vineyard is just a short distance from Barlow’s Estate Vineyard and I believe the micro-climate on the South-Eastern edge of Calistoga where both of these Merlots originate is perfectly suited to produce some of Napa’s best Merlot.
 
Barlow’s Estate Vineyard is farmed by father and son team and you can literally taste the care that goes into each bottle.  They produce just over 300 cases of their Merlot and at $35/btl the level of quality is literally shocking when you taste it.  The 2014 was housed for 22 months in oak and has blossomed for 2 years in the bottle.  You simply have to try this…  
 
BARLOW
2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl
 
Winery Notes:The 2014 Barlow Merlot has a deep, concentrated violet-purple color with aromas of rich raspberry, ripe red cherry with an essence of sweet French vanilla. The palate is highly concentrated with deep and generous flavors of currants, blueberries and Bing cherries. The tannins are soft and luxurious and are a great counterpart to the sweet flavors of toasty oak.” 
308 Cases Produced 
 
Customers who enjoy Barlow’s Calistoga Merlot, may also enjoy these two terrific Merlots…

 

2015 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 2014 Frostwatch Bennett Valley Merlot
DUCKHORN
2015 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $56/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 

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The consensus in the wine industry points to Merlot being back and with serious vigor. The varietal took a hit in 2004 with the debut of the movie Sideways which besmirched Merlot causing US Merlot sales to crater. A study by Vineyard Financial Associates estimates that it cost Merlot farmers over 400M in lost revenue in the decade following the movie.  Of course none of that made Duckhorn blink, in fact they’ve been climbing to new heights, and recently went on to become the #1 Wine in the World on the 2017 Wine Spectator Top 100 list with their 2014 Three Palms Merlot.  
FROSTWATCH
2014 MERLOT
BENNETT VALLEY 
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Merlot is scented of red and black plums, dried Mediterranean herbs, vanilla and spice box. Full-bodied in the mouth, it has a relatively tannic backbone dominating the fruit and drying out the finish slightly, but there is a lot of expressive fruit to love and it should reward another 3-5 years in bottle.”  90+ Points