Red - Merlot

The Custom Label Merlot is an approachable wine with an easy-going texture that just hits all the pleasure buttons. The 2019 vintage Merlot spent 20 months in mostly French oak barrels and delivers flavors of ripe blueberries and cherry liqueur layered with luscious notes of vanilla wafers and dark chocolate. There’s a hint of chaparral that adds freshness to the palate along with warm traces of cardamom and cinnamon spice. Think red berries, licorice and mocha coffee.  Doesn’t that sound delicious?

After falling in love with Merlot during a visit to Bordeaux, Dan Duckhorn started producing Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot in 1978. In the years since, grapes from the Napa portion of Carneros have played a pivotal role in our Napa Valley Merlot program. Influenced by the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean, Carneros is ideally suited for growing exceptional Merlot, yielding a wine with beautiful structure, velvety texture and lovely layers of plum and mulberry. From its tantalizing aromas of ripe cherry and black plum to its fine-grained tannins and lively complexity, the Duckhorn Merlot 2019, Napa Valley is a lovely expression of Napa Valley Merlot. On the palate, the flavors are rich and fleshy, with luxurious layers of black currant, red licorice, fig compote, blueberry and crushed rose petal flowing to a long, elegant finish.

This full-bodied expression of Merlot thrives in the well-draining soils found on the estate. This vineyard block sits just meters away from the base of the beautiful Mayacamas Mountains. The 2019 Ehlers Estate Merlot is medium ruby in color. Aromas of raspberry, red berry mix jam, fresh herbs, and vanilla. The palate is earthy mineral with forest floor, balanced smokiness, and red berry fruit. Great acidity and firm tannin structure. Concentrated flavors with a medium body. 93 Points Wine Enthusiast

The 2019 La Storia Reserve Merlot is a fine example of the ability of this classic Bordeaux variety to make solid, tasty and age worthy wines. The main aromas and flavors are of dark cherry, plums, a bit of black licorice and herbs. The new oak barrels contribute a touch of vanilla, brown sugar, cocoa dust and toast. On the mouth the wine is soft and viscous, balancing the acidity and the tannins well for such a young wine. The finish is long and soft with suggestion of sweetness backed by ripe tannins. This wine will age well and will reward your patience if stored well in the next 3-6 years.

DaKine Vineyard is Longboard’s estate property.Original vines were planted in 1988 for Arrowood Winery with budwood obtained from the famous “Three Palms” Merlot vineyard in Napa Valley. This is a field-blend, meaning they harvest and co-ferment Merlot and Malbec together. Longboard DaKine Merlot 2019 is lush with black currant, violet and blueberry aromas with that signature note of wild fennel. The generous mid-palate is full of sweet-tasting tannins, and dark chocolate flavors. As always, this pairs well with a rare Filet Mignon or a beef carpaccio.

This is not a wimpy Merlot.  Slightly tongue-in-cheek, but this has always been the motto for our Merlot Over and Play Dead.  Winemaker Brenda Lynch’s focus has always been on picking ripe Merlot fruit to get the black and red fruits she loves, and to get soft and ripe tannins.  The wine’s label captures this “attitude”… a big, beefy bulldog saying “bite me” is our way of saying this in not your typical Merlot.

It’s all about the fruit.  For her “Dog Series” wines, Brenda has one goal in mind – create fruit-forward wines with varietally true aromatics, mid palette weight and flavor, and a full bodied and balanced finish. The Mutt Lynch 2019 Merlot Over and Play Dead is medium-ruby in color and opens with fruit-forward aromas and flavors of red plums and cherries, with hints of black pepper spice and savory notes of tea leaf. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, nicely balanced and with a smooth, though dry finish. Enjoy it with  grilled hamburger, medium rare, covered in sauteed shitake mushrooms. A close second is meatloaf smothered in smokey bbq sauce.

In 2018, record-breaking winter rains filled reservoirs and recharged the soil. Spring and early summer were warm, leading to very strong growth in the vines. The rest of the summer was more typical with warm days and cool nights, providing perfect conditions for the developing grapes. Yields for the season were slightly lower than average and the resulting wines are classic—with complex flavors and signature brightness on the palate.

The Trefethen Merlot 2018 features ripe plum, cherry, and red currant aromas, complemented by elegant undertones of bay leaf and cedar. An abundance of juicy red fruit flavors entice the palate with beautifully integrated layers of fresh herbs followed by cracked pepper and baking spice on the finish. Lush tannins and bright acidity make this a wine to enjoy now and for years to come.

Pair the Trefethen Merlot 2018 with savory cuisine like his famous wood-fired mushroom pizza, Merlot glazed barbecued chicken, or grilled ahi tuna. We suggest integrating thyme, rosemary or cracked black pepper in your dish to enhance the beautiful fresh spice notes in the wine. 90 Pts Wine Enthusiast.