2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley

2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50CalistogaCarnerosKevin VogtMerlotNapaOak KnollUSAYountville

DUCKHORN 

2018 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley
Inspired by Bordeaux and a foundational focus of Duckhorn Winery since 1978, Merlot’s mesmeric identity and profound elegance were recognized by Dan Duckhorn as underappreciated in North America, and he set out to fix it. Having unwavering consistency and exemplary varietal character, Duckhorn dominates California Merlot. The 2018 release is a consummate example of the winery’s cumulative growth over the past four decades, and at $45, this deserves a spot on the table. 
 
Duckhorn’s Napa Valley Merlot reflects the diversity of Napa Valley terroir, enriched by Estate Vineyards and other top sites in Carneros, Oak Knoll, Calistoga, and Yountville. A quarter of the blend is harvested from the winery’s Three Palms, Rector Creek, Stout, Monitor Ledge, Patzimaro, and Cork Tree Vineyards, balanced with other renowned sites like Stagecoach, Hyde, and Hudson. 
 
A hallmark of Duckhorn’s Napa Merlot is the inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon for added depth, structure, and signature black cherry, plum, and spice characteristics. Quality was propelled even further by the 2018 vintage, and after resting for 15 months in barrel, this wine is ready to delight.
 
DUCKHORN 
2018 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $56
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“From its tempting aromas of ripe cherry and black raspberry to its sweet, dusty tannins and supple texture, this a lush and expansive expression of Napa Valley Merlot. Luxurious flavors of black plum, rhubarb crumble and chocolate-covered raspberry mingle with hints of graphite and clove on the long, vibrant finish.”
2016 Ty Caton Winemaker's Cuvee Moon Mountain District

2016 Ty Caton Winemaker’s Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMoon MountainNapaUSA

TY CATON 

WINEMAKER’S CUVEE
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT 

2016 Ty Caton Winemaker's Cuvee Moon Mountain DistrictIf you enjoy robust, hedonistic Cabs from Mount Veeder, and the elegant and savory wines from Spring Mountain, you would also enjoy wines from Moon Mountain. Positioned on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder, the well-drained red volcanic soils are also home to icons like the Monte Rosso, which was made famous by Louis Martini, and Frederick’s Vineyard used by Turley. At the $38 retail price, Ty Caton’s Winemaker’s Cuvée from Moon Mountain earned a Gold Medal at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition. But at our price, few others can compete.  

Ty selected clone 337 for his Cabernet, which is commonly found in cult wines and thrives in the well-drained volcanic soils. On the palate, the wine is stunningly deep, enchanting, and full of hedonistic delights. 
 
The 2016 Cuvée checks in at 90% Cabernet Sauvignon entwined with Merlot and spent 15 months in oak barrels. Now with a couple of years in the bottle, it conquers your senses with an exotic tapestry of opulent black fruits, liquid floral, and crushed rock.
 
TY CATON 
WINEMAKER’S CUVEE
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at: $38
 
 
 
 
 
“The 2016 Estate Winemaker’s Cuvee meets the palate with rich and full-bodied flavors of black currant, red plums, and cassis, followed by oak notes of cedar and vanilla. These dark flavors produce a lush and velvety textured mouth feel that combine with supple tannins, and leads to a long silky finish.”
2016 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

2016 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

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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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.”
2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot

2014 Barlow Calistoga Merlot

with No Comment $30-$40CalistogaKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

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 

Click to Order

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
2014 Calculated Risk Mount Veeder Proprietary Red

2014 Calculated Risk Mount Veeder Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMt VeederNapaProprietary RedUSA

CALCULATED RISK

PROPRIETARY RED
2014 MOUNT VEEDER

2014 Calculated Risk Mount Veeder Proprietary Red
I’ve always found a mystical element in Mount Veeder fruit that always draws me in.  It’s the largest AVA within Napa Valley but the rugged terrain limits production to just 1.3% of Napa Valley grapes.  Yielding small, powerful berries, the sandstone and shale soils set this Mountain apart from all others in Napa.  It’s also the coolest Mountain which allows the grapes to have a longer hang-time so they can develop into something majestic.  One of the area’s hallmarks is the fine-grained tannins, along with brambly Mountain berries, stony minerality, and exceptional concentration.  The only thing keeping us from enjoying Mount Veeder wine every day is their scarcity and the often high-elevation price tag.  Of the ten 2014 Mount Veeder Cabernets that I found listed in the Wine Spectator, the average price was well over $100/btl. This Calculated Risk is sure to pay off…
 
A calculated blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon this remarkable representation of Mount Veeder hails from a vintage unanimously recognized for its unrivaled quality.  Exhibiting all of the characteristics of Mount Veeder fruit, from the stunning weight and concentration to the stony minerality, mystical bramble fruits and floral, this wine has it all.  The only risk will be waiting too long to secure your case…
 
CALCULATED RISK
PROPRIETARY RED
2014 MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Coming from the exclusive Mt. Veeder appellation, where almost all work is done by hand due to the rugged and steep terrain, this elegant wine offers beautiful notes of black raspberry, currant and tobacco. Tannins are well integrated and beautifully balanced.”
 
2015 Prisoner Wine Company Derange Proprietary Red

2015 Prisoner Wine Company Dérangé Proprietary Red

with No Comment $90-$100CarnerosKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSpring MountainUSA

PRISONER WINE CO.

2015 DÉRANGÉ
PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Prisoner Wine Company Derange Proprietary RedBest described by the catchy slogan from the early 1900’s, Go big, or go home, which references experiencing something to the fullest and being bold and extravagant, Prisoner Wine Company found a way to bottle it… Tipping the scales of extract, and deep chocolaty flavors, this larger-than-life Cabernet Sauvignon Blend hails from iconic sites including Lee Hudson’s renowned Carneros Vineyard, Sage Canyon on Spring Mountain, Heitz Taplin, to list a few.  Held captive for 18 months in French oak barrels, this bold, dramatic and monstrous blend was a tough fugitive to catch.  We’ve imprisoned bottles in our shop for months, and just got the go-ahead to release them to you…
Created in big, masculine style, the 2015 Dérangé is an unapologetic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel.  Bursting with intense black fruits, clove spice, unsweetened berry cobbler, black chocolates, and more chocolate… this deep and velvety wine has a finish that goes on and on.  I strongly recommend securing a case before it’s too late. 
 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2015 DÉRANGÉ
PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $99.99/btl
 
Winery Notes: “In the late spring of 2016, all 2015 TPWC lots were evaluated for character. The most concentrated and delicious lots of each variety were selected for the first vintage of Dérangé. After lot selection, all barrels destined for Dérangé were hand-selected by tasting each and every one. This red blend is full of black cherry, clove spice, blackberry cobbler, and vanilla toast. The mouthfeel is full on the entry and the soft tannins and balanced acidity are a delicious combo.”
 
Customers that enjoy Prisoner Wine Company’s Dérangé, may also enjoy these two terrific wines from Prisoner Wine Co…
2016 Prisoner Wine Company "The Prisoner" Proprietary Blend 2015 Prisoner Wine Company "Cuttings" Cabernet Sauvingnon 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2016 THE PRISONER
PROPRIETARY BLEND
Retails at:  $47.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl  
A wine of unrestrained jubilance and infectious charm, the new 2016 Prisoner unshackles a bounty of deliciously elaborate flavors, and with even more vibrancy and determination. Having jail-break level intensity, the 2016 escapes powerfully from the glass, permeating with beautifully focused ripe cherries, wild strawberry, chocolate, and crushed violets.
PRISONER WINE CO.
2015 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
2015 Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Napa Valley Merlot

2015 Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Napa Valley Merlot

with No Comment $90-$100CalistogaKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

DUCKHORN

2015 THREE PALMS VINEYARD
NAPA VALLEY MERLOT

 2015 Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Napa Valley Merlot
When we offered Duckhorn’s 2014 Three Palms Merlot last October we asked the question, where do you go after being the reference standard in your field for nearly four decades…  Predicting Duckhorn would elevate their game to an even higher level, after earning their highest score ever from the Wine Spectator, they went on to become the #1 Wine in the World on the 2017 Wine Spectator Top 100 list.  Over the last 40 years, Duckhorn has become an inspirational icon for mastering Bordeaux varietals, and particularly Merlot in Napa Valley.  I can think of no other wine brand that defines iconic for a single varietal than Duckhorn does for Merlot… 
A classic expression of Napa Valley Merlot, the 2015 conquers your senses with mineral laced blackberry, unsweetened chocolate-raspberry souffle, graphite, cassis and dried rose petals.  Arising from another monumental vintage in Napa Valley, the 2015 blossoms after developing for 18 months in oak barrels then 12 months in the bottle before release…  Marked by the wine‘s signature dense core and beautiful satin texture, the 2015 unwinds with intensely flavored black fruits, holiday spices, plum, cassis and vanilla.  I strongly recommend securing a case of this celebrated California Merlot.  
 
DUCKHORN
2015 THREE PALMS
NAPA VALLEY MERLOT
Retails at:  $98.00/btl
Your Price: $94.99/btl 
 
 
Winery Notes: “Reflecting what can be achieved from a legendary vineyard in an exceptional growing season, this wine displays captivating aromas of fresh cranberry, blueberry, fig, cedar and cocoa nibs. On the dense, mouth-filling palate, sophisticated notes of wet slate minerality add poise and definition to flavors of plum, molasses, cherry and crushed rose petals. Silky tannins carry the wine to a beautifully structured finish with hints of moist earth, cranberry and bittersweet chocolate.”
Merlot 91% | Cabernet Sauvignon 7% | Petit Verdot 1.5% | Cabernet Franc .5%
 
Customers who enjoy Duckhorn’s Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, may also enjoy these two outstanding Merlots…
2013 Paloma Spring Mountain Merlot 2014 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot
PALOMA
2013 MERLOT
SPRING MOUNTAIN
Your Price: $56.99/btl 
 
DUCKHORN
2014 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $54.00/btl
Your Price: $44.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “…Intense aromas of ripe cherry, plum and black fig rise from the glass, underscored by hints of leather and cedar. On the palate, it is lush and supple, with bright acidity and velvety tannins supporting layers of raspberry and black cherry, as well as hints of coffee and chocolate that carry through on the long finish.”