2008 Duckhorn Vineyards Three Palms Vineyard Merlot
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Our first vineyard-designated Merlot from Three Palms was our inaugural 1978 vintage, beginning over a quarter century of tradition crafting full-bodied wines that reflect the unique terroir of this site.
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Content: 79% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc; Cooperage: 100% French oak château-style barrels (60 gallons); Age of Barrels: 90% New
Winemaker Notes
From its vibrant red fruit to its signature minerality, this is a classic expression of the qualities that have made Three Palms Vineyard legendary in the world of California Merlot. The aromas are bright and appealing with layers of red currant, cranberry, cherry and ripe raspberry. The palate offers a robust structure with lush red fruit flavors, as well as sophisticated supporting notes of warm earth, dried wild herbs and minerals. This age-worthy wine will benefit from decanting in its youth.
Production
Though the 2008 growing season presented certain challenges—from early frosts to drought conditions—a meticulous approach to viticulture and sorting yielded small crops with good concentration, highlighting soft, appealing tannins for our red varietals and bright acidity for our white grapes. A long, moderately cool summer led to a harvest that commenced in mid-August and concluded in early November. This relatively relaxed pace allowed us to pick in numerous passes to ensure quality, often focusing on individual rows or a single side of the vines.
Other Notes
Released: April 2011
Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Vintage
2008
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Napa Valley
Vineyard Designation
Three Palms Vineyard
Harvest Date
September 6 – October 31, 2008
Sugar
27.9° Brix
Acid
0.60 g/100ml Titratable Acidity
pH
3.73
Aging
18 months in Barrel
Bottling Date
July 2010
Alcohol %
14.5
