If you’re still unreasonably part of the “anything but Merlot” crowd, do yourself a favor and check out Duckhorn’s line of excellent examples. This cooler climate Carneros bottling is one of the winery’s six different looks at what the grape is capable of in different locations when guided by expert hands. Here, tight black and blue berry fruit get a nice push from the oak spice, and they finish together with a proper peppery note that adds to its food pairing possibilities.
Duckhorn, Carneros, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2015
By Rich Cook