93pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2018 vintage Napa Valley Merlot draws on the intensity and structure of mountain-grown fruit coupled with the soft richness of lower elevation Merlot to provide a perfect texture. Ripe black fruit flavors coat the entire palate and linger in a long delicious finish. This is a merlot for true Merlot lovers!

Winemaker Notes

A Cabernet lover's Merlot – dark, ripe red fruit with lush mouthfeel and velvety tannins.

Harvest of 2018 was unusually early for us, so the wildfires that ravaged Napa and Sonoma counties that year, happened while our wines were already in tank or barrel. We were thankfully spared from the flames and any smoke damage to our fruit.

This perfectly ripened September-harvest 100% Merlot, from one of my favorite vineyards in the Napa Valley, is deep and dark in color with black currant, ripe blackberry aromas with a hint of vanilla and mocha.

Very round and rich on the palate, the flavors and textures are mouth-coating with generous and very fine tannins. The berry and mocha flavors persist in an amazingly long, ripe, and vibrant finish that lasts for minutes. This is a Merlot for Cabernet lovers.