APOTHIC 2008 PROPRIETARY RED
"WINEMAKER'S BLEND" CALIFORNIA RED 750mL
Inspired by the "Apotheca", a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe, Apothic Red offers a truly unique wine experience. This masterful blend of flavorful Syrah, rich Zinfandel, and smooth Merlot reveals intense fruit aromas and flavors of blackberry and dark cherry layered with hints of mocha, chocolate and brown spice. The plush, velvety mouthfeel and smooth finish round out this intriguing, full-bodied red blend.
A rare, etched large format bottle from the Napa Valley Wine Auction.
ROBERT PARKER The Wine Advocate, Issue 89
"Beringer continues to do everything right. Its staff of talented professionals may rank as the best in the business. Beringer's Merlot from the Bancroft Vineyard on Howell Mountain is one of the top three or four California Merlots. The dark ruby-colored 1990 Merlot-Bancroft Vineyard displays attractive spicy oak intermingled with scents of ripe red and black fruits, medium to full body, and a rich, sweet, long finish.
A rare etched large format bottle from the Napa Valley Wine Auction.
ROBERT PARKER The Wine Advocate, Issue 89
"Beringer continues to do everything right. Its staff of talented professionals may rank as the best in the business. Beringer's Merlot from the Bancroft Vineyard on Howell Mountain is one of the top three or four California Merlots. The dark ruby-colored 1990 Merlot-Bancroft Vineyard displays attractive spicy oak intermingled with scents of ripe red and black fruits, medium to full body, and a rich, sweet, long finish.
BLACKBIRD 2007 PROPRIETARY RED "ARISE" OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 750ml
Blackbird Vineyards has provided quietly fruit to many of Napa’s finest wineries: Lail, Pride, and Viader. Mia Klein, formerly at Dalla Valle, created a vineyard designate for her highly acclaimed 1999 Selene Merlot. Three of the top critics (Parker, Tanzer and Wine Spectator), scored their first release in the 90's. Blackbird continues to provide fruit to such winemakers as Bob Foley (Robert Foley, Hourglass).
In launching Blackbird as an ultra premium label, owner Michael Polenske has assembled a dynamic team to execute his vision. Among them is winemaker Sarah Gott, whose extensive experience producing noteworthy wines includes Phelps "Backus" and "Insignia", Quintessa, St. Helena "Sympa" and Joel Gott. Tending to the vineyard is Oscar Renteria, manager of his family's multi-generation farming company. By combining practical, generational field knowledge with innovative trials and experimentation, they have found a balance which allows them to grow the finest grapes possible.
Polenske likens the Oak Knoll District in general, and Blackbird Vineyard's soil and the climate in particular, to France’s Pomerol region, know for its stellar Merlots. (Fittingly, ‘Merlot’ is French patois for ‘Little Blackbird’). Polenske says, “The Merlot based wines of Pomerol have historically challenged the first growths of Bordeaux. And with Blackbird, I’ve found a vineyard that can produce a world-class wine with a Merlot in the style of the 'Garagiste' wines that have grown to prominence in the last 20 years, with a nod to the classics on the right bank.”
Saturated with rich, vibrant color, the generous nose exudes tantalizing aromas of Bing cherry, cassis and cola. Upon entry, profuse flavors of raspberries, plum and baking spices intertwine with fine-grained tannins to create a supple, chewy middle palate. The complex range of flavors in this expansive wine are heightened by its smooth, velvety texture and its long, lingering finish.
ROBERT PARKER 92 POINTS
"The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Arise (75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits a mossy, forest floor, Burgundian-like component, medium to full body, outstanding balance, purity, and texture, and some tannin that needs to be resolved. Again, 2-3 years of cellaring is recommended, but this beauty should age for two decades."
BLACKSTONE 2006 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY 750ml The Blackstone 2006 Napa Valley Merlot is dark, rich red in color, with pleasing aromas of dark berries, cherries and chocolate. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has a chewy structure with bright flavors of cherries and berries. The finish is soft and lingering. Enjoy this Napa Valley Merlot with smoky barbecued meats, rich pastas, and leg of lamb.
BLACKSTONE 2008 MERLOT
CALIFORNIA 750ml
The 2007 Blackstone Merlot perfectly demonstrates the "Blackstone style" - rich fruit aromas, elegance, supple oak characters and soft tannins. With lifted dark cherry and berry aromas and a touch of spicy clove, this wine is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The texture is ripe and soft in the mouth, with bright cherry fruit flavors and a soft, lingering finish. Blackstone Merlot will pair nicely with rack of lamb, grilled burgers and tomato-based pasta dishes.
BLANKIET 2004 MERLOT
"PARADISE HILLS VINEYARD" NAPA VALLEY 750ml
ROBERT PARKER 94 POINTS
"The 2004 Merlot Paradise Hills Vineyard (1,100 cases) includes a dollop of Cabernet Franc in the blend. It exhibits gorgeous notes of chocolate, espresso, plums, blackberries, and cherries. Full-bodied with terrific intensity and opulence, it makes a dramatic statement about how great Napa Merlot can be. It should drink beautifully for 15 or more years. Both 2004s have put on considerable weight and performed significantly stronger out of bottle than they did from cask."
BOGEL 2008 MERLOT
CALIFORNIA 750ml
We feel that Bogle has one of the most solid wine portfolios in the business, and they prove that it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! The Bogle family has been farming since the mid 1800’s and their reputation has continued to grow. The fact that they want to sell wines that people can actually afford doesn’t hurt, either.
Deep cherry fruit hits both the nose and palate upon the first sip, followed by soft hints of anise, touches of pipe tobacco and spicy oak. Enjoy this wine with a wide range of food: from pasta to hearty meat dishes, or of course, all by itself.
BUCCELLA 2007 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY 750mL
This is... the best domestic Merlot we’ve tasted in several years! In fact, when we told that to the broker, he said another big
retailer in L.A. said it was the best they’ve ever had! It’s that story that starts off like many of our favorite wines; proprietors
Bill and Alicia shared a common love of wine and decided to pursue making the best wine they could. Winemakers Chris
Justin (Merus, Carter and Del Dotto) and Celia Welch (Scarecrow, Corra, Keever and Kelly Flemming) have put their heads
together to get the right barrels, vineyards and final blends to make sure only the best goes in each bottle! The wine is primarily
Merlot from the famed Hyde Vineyard, with a small amount of Cabernet from Oakville, Yountville and Combsville. Whole berry
fermented in small T-bins, and aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels, this opaque purple-colored wine has a
intensely perfumed nose that screams of ripe plum, blueberry, boysenberry, creme-de-cassis, violets and a hint of chocolate, all of which follow through to the palate. This is a ripe, rich, succulent wine, with excellent purity, glorious texture, unmatched definition and a length that seems to go on for over a minute. If everybody made Merlot like this, Cabernet could be dethroned as king!
BEAULIEU VINEYARDS 2006 MERLOT
"COASTAL SERIES" CALIFORNIA 750ml
Fully ripe plummy aromas with hints of dark chocolate, subtle herbs and black cherry herald similarly intense fruit flavors. Medium-full bodied, with ripe fruit balanced by subtle acidity and mild tannins.
CLOS LA CHANCE 2006 MERLOT
"VIOLET-CROWNED" CENTRAL COAST 750ml The color of this wine is intense—deep ruby purple. Aromas of ripe plums, smoky berry fruits and spice. Juicy red currant flavors on the entry, followed with rich, red cherry, black cherry and blackberry flavors extending to the mid-palate. A long finish with spicy oak and velvety fruit. Soft, lush and colorful!
CLOS DU VAL 2006 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY 750ml
Dense and chewy, with boysenberry and anise aromas and plum and roasted herb flavors that finish on an earthy note.
COLUMBIA CREST 2007 MERLOT
"GRAND ESTATES" WASHINGTON This complex, artisanally crafted wine offers classic Merlot spice, ripe cherry fruit, and cocoa aromatics which persist on the palate. The balance of wood and black fruits creates a velvety, seductively smooth finish
COPPOLA 2007 MERLOT
"DIAMOND SERIES" CALIFORNIA 750ml
The growing season was long and cool, allowing the grapes to hang on the vine and mature longer. As a result, this Merlot exhibits exceptional concentration and a beautiful, lengthy finish. To enrich the color, small amounts of Syrah and Petite Sirah are blended in. Then, the wine is aged in small French oak barrels, which lend lovely notes of sweet vanilla to this elegant, full-bodied Merlot.
DAVID ARTHUR 2005 MERLOT
PRITCHARD HILL (NAPA VALLEY) 750ml
The vineyard on Pritchard Hill, one of the finest areas in Napa, was planted in 1978 and overlooks the entire Napa Valley. Its rocky and orange-red clay soils are perfect for growing grapes for big, dense red wines.
Merlot grown in their estate vineyards high on Pritchard Hill, has always shown potential. With its rich and silky palate, it has always deserved to be more than just a blending tool for Cabernet. When there is a particularly outstanding vintage, they produce a varietal bottling. Only 150 cases made.
Predominately Merlot (76%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (16%) and Franc (8%).
DECOY 2008 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY 750mL
Not to take away from any of the other wines, but this is the wine that really stood out for several of us. And why not? They’ve been at the forefront of Merlot for decades! Ruby/garnet in color, this is a luscious and forward Merlot with a touch of Cabernet blended in, displaying aromas and flavors of black cherry, loganberry, blueberry, plum and cinnamon spice. A knockout for the price, the wine finishes with velvety tannins, excellent purity, and a lip-smacking finish!
DRY CREEK 2006 MERLOT
DRY CREEK VALLEY 750mL
This beautiful Dry Creek Valley Merlot begins with ripe blackberry and currant aromas with a trace of vanilla. On the palate, a broad and expansive tapestry of ?avors reveals black cherry, cassis, and dark chocolate, layered with chewy tannins. The ?nish remains textured and rich, but has a softer edge that expresses tremendous length and balance. For most folks, Merlot is “persona non-grata,” however, don’t overlook this gem – this truly is a Merlot for Cabernet lovers!
DUCKHORN 2006 MERLOT NAPA VALLEY 750ML
This was the wine that Dan and Margaret used to help put Napa Valley Merlot on people’s radar and consequently shot them to fame! 2006 was such a standout of a vintage for Merlot that there is significantly less Cabernet or Petit Verdot in the blend! Its bouquet displays lush layers of ripe plum and bright raspberry underscored by notes of sandalwood, walnut and spice. On the palate, polished flavors of red cherry and raspberry are accented by an enticing layer of graham cracker pie crust. This offers a rich texture, ripe tannins and seamlessly integrated French oak. Quintessential Duckhorn!
