2016 Duckhorn Vineyards Carneros Napa Valley Merlot
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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 & Spirits
93
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Content: 100% Merlot; Cooperage: 100% French oak - 50% new, 50% neutral
Winemaker Notes
From its explosive red berry aromas to its juicy mid-palate and plush, lingering finish, this wine shows why we love Carneros Merlot. On the nose, aromas of cranberry, raspberry, currants and black cherry leap from the glass, followed by notes of crushed rose petals, licorice, vanilla and bay leaf. The lively red fruit is echoed in the flavors, with dusty tannins and hints of sweet tea and baking spices adding sophistication to this elegant cool-climate Merlot.
Production
2016 offered another near-perfect vintage in Napa Valley! While much-needed rain during the winter months helped to replenish our reservoirs, a dry spring and summer, with moderate temperatures and plenty of sunshine, led to another early harvest. Our first white grapes came into the winery on August 3rd, with the remainder of our whites following at an even, steady pace. A few weeks of ideally timed cool weather in early September provided additional hangtime, yielding bright acids and beautifully articulated flavors in our early ripening reds. Warm, dry weather for the remainder of the season allowed the rest of our grapes to develop rich, concentrated flavors, with polished tannins and wonderful complexity.
Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Vintage
2016
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Carneros
Harvest Date
September 10 - 27, 2016
Sugar
25.4° Brix at harvest
Acid
0.58 g/100 ml titratable acidity
pH
3.56
Aging
16 Months in Barrel
Fermentation
10-12 days fermentation at 82°F
Alcohol %
14.50
Wine & Spirits
93
