Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesI like the savory nose here, with notes of coffee, spiced plum, overturned earth and bark. Full-bodied with fine, silky tannins. Expressive, but focused, with really clean and clear dark fruit blending nicely with ground spice and grilled herbs. Totally delicious. This will age very nicely.
6% Cabernet Sauvignon; 1% Malbec; 1% Cabernet Franc. Yet again finding a familiar place at the head of the Duckhorn class of 2019, this year’s Three Palms Vineyard Merlot is a beautifully crafted wine of tremendous richness and depth. Although an intense and wonderfully expressive effort now whose polished, age-worthy tannins are countered by a wealth of extremely longlasting fruit, it has the all of the pieces in place to evolve famously and, when carefully cellared, is guaranteed to pay big dividends upon reaching its tenth anniversary.
Deep cedar, loam and mocha notes frame black cherries and plums on the nose of the 2019 Merlot Three Palms Vineyard. It's full-bodied and moderately rich, with an open-knit texture, ripe tannins and a slightly oaky finish. Approachable now, it should drink well for up to a decade, but I would be hesitant to expect much more. Best After 2023
The 2019 Merlot Three Palms Vineyard is solid and a terrific expression of Merlot. Cassis, black cherries, graphite, scorched earth, and lead pencil notes all define the nose, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and a good finish.
Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting classic Napa Valley wines for nearly 40 years. This winemaking tradition has grown to include seven meticulously farmed Estate vineyards, located throughout the various microclimates of the Napa Valley. Focused on quality and consistency, these Estate vineyards are an essential element in making wines of distinction. Pioneering and perfecting Merlot as a premium varietal, Duckhorn Vineyards now makes several elegant Merlot and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings that showcase its premium vineyard sites. Duckhorn Vineyards has been named one of the “Top 100 Wineries” in the world eight times by Wine & Spirits, and the 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard was named the “2017 Wine of the Year,” topping Wine Spectator’s annual list of the world’s “Top 100 Wines.”
One of Napa Valley’s oldest wine growing subregions but last to gain appellation status, Calistoga occupies the northernmost section of the valley. Beginning at the foot of Mount St. Helena, its vineyards stretch over steep canyons and roll out onto the valley floor. The soils in Calistoga are volcanic, which means they are heavy in minerals, low in organic matter and allow good drainage for vine roots, creating less green growth and more concentration of flavor within the grape berries.
Summer days are very hot but most nights cool down with moist ocean breezes sneaking in over the Mayacamas Mountains or from Knights Valley to its northwest.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the area’s star variety with Zinfandel coming in a strong second, though the latter commands far less price per tonnage so continues to be outshined by Cabernet in vineyard acreage, save for some important exceptions.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.