Just love the smooth, supple texture of this suave Merlot from the southern reaches of the Napa Valley. On the palate the wine delivers layers of plum and blackberry fruit, with a hint of cassis and cedar. It finishes with outstanding persistence and length and will no doubt improve with additional cellar age, but it’s also a crowd-pleaser at this still early stage of its evolution.
Duckhorn Vineyards, Atlas Peak (Napa Valley, California) Merlot 2010
By Robert Whitley