This famous vineyard produces excellence in Merlot year after year, and ’11 is no exception. The nose is all about perfumed cherry elegance, with hints of tobacco leaf, olive and fall spice. On the palate, bold acidic structure and supple tannins hold up the cherry theme, with the spice and tones lingering in balance. I’d age this wine for a good five years to integrate all the elements further and get full enjoyment out of it.
Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2011
By Rich Cook