Napa Cellars from Napa Valley Merlot 2016 750ML

Napa Cellars from Napa Valley Merlot 2016  750ML

Merlot from Napa Valley, California

Notes from the Winemaker

Napa Cellars Merlot boasts aromas of dark cherry and concentrated dark fruit notes with hints of strawberry jam and vanilla. Flavors of plum, blackberry, caramel, and cocoa coat the palate and are complemented by smoky-oak, tobacco, and cedar notes. The wine finishes with a toasted, sweeter caramel and soy-like character. This wine showcases medium bodied, concentrated tannin in the mid-palate and part acidity that pairs well with a wide range of food.

Vineyards

Grapes for the 2016 Napa Cellars Merlot are sourced from vineyards mainly from the Oak Knoll region, along with a small portion from Atlas Peak and Carneros regions ideal for cultivating Merlot grapes. The moderate to cool climate in Napa Valley supports an extended growing season, resulting in elegant, intricate, complex and balanced wine.

Harvest

The 2016 growing season offered superlative growing conditions with abundant rain at the beginning of the year. Harvest brought lower yields with fruit of excellent quality.

Winemaking

Once harvested, the grapes underwent a 12 to 16 day maceration period and were fermented using the délestage method. This process allows the winemaker to extract
copious amounts of color and flavor from the skins, while avoiding excessive extraction of bitter and astringent flavors. After the fermentation process completed, the wine was aged for 12 months in 100% French oak barrels, 28% of which were new.

Reviews and Accolades

90 Points/James Suckling
A bit dusty in the nose, but on the palate this crowd-pleasing merlot manages to be simultaneously ripe yet lively and supple. The discreet tannins hold it all together rather nicely. Drink or hold.