Size: 750 ml
Proof: 29
Created: Dan & Margaret Duckhorn
Taste
Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot is known for its commitment to winemaking excellence, typically producing Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot that show elegance, structure, and depth. It is rich and complex with notes of huckleberries, plums, bright cherries, spiced cinnamon and fragrant rose petals are underscored by hints of cocoa and sweet French oak as well as elements of earthy minerality that add character to the long, complex finish.
History
Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot is produced in Duckhorn vineyards which was founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976. They took a trip to Pomerol to taste some of Merlot-influenced “Right-Bank” Bordeaux wines. So, Dan met up with Ric Forman who was the winemaker at Sterling Vineyards at the time and when he heard that Dan was looking for some Merlot, he gave him a call – “I’ve got a vineyard you have to see”. The two met up, and Ric took Dan up to the Three Palms Vineyard in Calistoga. Besides the gift of introducing Dan to Three Palms Vineyard fruit, Ric also recommended a winemaker by the name of Tom Rinaldi. Tom rolled up to the winery on a motorcycle looking like “a flower child” as Margaret Duckhorn called him, they had no idea what they were in for. Tom ended up as the Duckhorn's winemaker for the next 20 years. The early days of winemaking were simple with only three stainless steel tanks under a big oak tree and hand cranked basket presses. Dan was at harvest for the first vintage in 1978, where they only harvested 28 tons of grapes into apple lug boxes, half Cabernet Sauvignon and half Merlot. Everything was handpicked and sorted extensively. Dan’s trip to France had also introduced him to the Nadalie family who were barrel builders and he decided that brand new French oak was the way to go. Those first few vintages were cellared exclusively in Nadalie coopered barrels.
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