Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot

On Sunday, March 16th at 10am we decided to partake in Duckhorn’s Merlot exclusive tour and tasting. We were kindly hosted by Duckhorn's Wine Educator Abigail Thompson. She gave us a brief background of Duckhorn’s history. We were then shown their winemaking machinery and barrel room. Afterwards we were seated in special room with the group at a long table. At the table we each had a small plate of artisan cheeses to pair with several of their Merlot wines. We felt privy to compare all of these wines. Each one was very distinctive in style. Merlot wines sampled that day include their Howell Mountain Merlot, Estate Merlot, Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, Rector Creek "Block 8" Merlot, and Napa Valley Merlot. I listed them in order of my personal favorites. We found that the majority of their Merlot wines are produced with great structure, complexity, and aging potential. We were generally impressed, especially with such a wide range of different styles. Across the board it was a rainbow of Merlot, each enjoyed for a different reason. We also can't wait to visit again, but next time we plan to sample their Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

We recommend any true lover of Merlot to do the Duckhorn Sunday Merlot tour and tasting. This is a great tour for both novices and connoisseurs.

Sincerely,
Marisol Ramirez