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.
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Composition: 100% Merlot
Winemaker Notes
With lush, juicy layers of tantalizing red berry fruit and a lovely core of cool-climate energy, this wine captures the essence of Carneros Merlot. On the palate it is vibrant and flowing, with supple, polished tannins adding poise and purity to the luxurious Bing cherry and cranberry flavors. As it draws to a lingering finish, a medley of sweet baking spice notes emerge that will keep you coming back for more!
Production
2019 brought another exceptional vintage to Napa Valley, resulting in wines with alluring polish and poise! The season began with a wet winter followed by a mild spring. While this led to a slightly later-than-normal start to the season, ideal summer weather with no significant heat spikes ensured ideal flavor development, yielding complex and vibrant whites, and refined reds with elegant tannins, enticing aromatics and beautiful fruit flavors.