 
			
		2021 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard
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			Since our inaugural 1978 vintage, we have been proud to craft a vineyard-designate Merlot from the legendary Three Palms Vineyard. Named for its three iconic palm trees, this warm, up-valley vineyard features lean soils that cause the vines to send their roots deep in search of nutrients, yielding a profoundly intense and age-worthy wine with complex fruit and mineral layers. As a testament to its status as the benchmark for New World Merlot, in 2017, Wine Spectator honored our 2014 Three Palms Vineyard Merlot as “Wine of the Year.” 
		
	
					
					 Wine Enthusiast
				94
			James Suckling
				94
			Wine Profile
Production Notes
			Varietal Composition: 87% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc
		Winemaker Notes
			The exceptional 2021 growing season produced an epic and elegantly full-bodied expression of Merlot from our famed Three Palms Vineyard, with alluring aromas of huckleberry, fig jam, cranberry, cocoa and rose petals. On the palate, flavors of blackberry, cherry, molasses and wet slate minerality are framed by a sumptuous structure and fine, graceful tannins.
		Production
			Despite an unusually dry winter and warm spring, budbreak was delayed due to light rain in March. The overall lack of rainfall led to light clusters and small berries, which resulted in reduced yields and great concentration. Harvest began on August 5th with Semillon, and early heat generated a fast and furious first few weeks of picking. A much-needed mid-September cool-down allowed for sugars to realign with flavor development. Moderate temperatures continued throughout the rest of the season, providing additional hangtime for the grapes. Our last red grapes were harvested before the rains in late October, resulting in beautiful wines that are dense, pure and polished.
		Wine Specs
Wine Specs
			
			
			Vintage
				2021
			Varietal
				Merlot
			Appellation
				Napa Valley
			Vineyard Designation
			Three Palms Vineyard
		Acid
			0.59 g/100 ml
		pH
			3.75
		Aging
			Aged for 18 months in 100% French oak 75% new, 25% neutral
		Alcohol %
			14.5
		Wine Enthusiast
				94
			James Suckling
				94
			