Why it matters
The producer
Merlot sits at the centre of Duckhorn Vineyards. The producer identifies itself as the first American winery to pioneer luxury Merlot, and it debuted Napa Valley Merlot in 1979. Cabernet Sauvignon shares the red range, while Chardonnay has its own Napa Valley program.
The red wines include broad Napa Valley bottlings, a vineyard designated Merlot from Three Palms Vineyard, and The Discussion, a Cabernet Sauvignon led blend. Duckhorn Vineyards works with Bordeaux varieties across these wines, while keeping the individual bottle styles distinct.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Duckhorn's estate vineyard program encompasses 298 acres across five Napa Valley subappellations. The range therefore includes wines carrying the wider Napa Valley name alongside wines tied to a named vineyard or a more specific blend.
The original property is in St Helena. Three Palms Vineyard gives one Merlot its vineyard designation, while The Discussion carries the name of the top wine in the Duckhorn Vineyards portfolio.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
During fermentation and ageing, Duckhorn keeps wines in small lots corresponding to specific blocks within its vineyards. This preserves block level separation through the cellar and keeps the wines connected to individual vineyard sources.
The Napa Valley Chardonnay program uses French oak barrel fermentation and lees stirring. Lees stirring keeps fine yeast sediment in contact with the wine, contributing to the complexity and richness described for the Chardonnay.
Wines to know
The range in view
The 2022 Napa Valley Merlot is the broad Merlot bottling, made from 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. It matured for 15 months in French oak, divided between 40% new and 60% neutral barrels.
The 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It matured for 16 months in French oak, with equal portions of new and neutral barrels.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Choose the 2022 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot. It is the broad Napa Valley red blend, with Merlot accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The bottle carries the central grape of Duckhorn's history under the wider Napa Valley name.