Rutherford Hill

Napa Valley Merlot

8.8602 ratings
8.841 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Merlot
Beef, Venison, Salami & Prosciutto, Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, Exotic Spices, Lamb, White Rice, Baking Spices, Herbs, Pasta, Chicken, Mushrooms, Pungent Cheese, Turkey, Tomato-Based, Soft Cheese, Pork, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Duck, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
Sipping Fine Wine

Dark Ruby with ripe berry fruit and herb spice aromas. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry with leather and cacao notes. Dusty tannins, medium finish ending spicy. Will stand up to food, drink now no aging benefit.

Dark Ruby with ripe berry fruit and herb spice aromas. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry with leather and cacao notes. Dusty tannins, medium finish ending spicy. Will stand up to food, drink now no aging benefit.

Mar 17th, 2024
Matt Sterr

Value-driven Napa Merlot.

Value-driven Napa Merlot.

Mar 23rd, 2022
Meg Herring

Luxe, velvety red with intense notes of blackberry, black cherry, pencil shavings, vanilla, cocoa, and espresso and lush tannins. Good for chilly weather! (sample)

Luxe, velvety red with intense notes of blackberry, black cherry, pencil shavings, vanilla, cocoa, and espresso and lush tannins. Good for chilly weather! (sample)

Oct 15th, 2021
Jonathan Wall

Lose the fruit and you have a Bordeaux. These 8 and 9 year old merlots might have started life as fruit bombs, but for a good value napa merlot, they have matured nicely. Especially the 2013… it’s a right bank brother.

Lose the fruit and you have a Bordeaux. These 8 and 9 year old merlots might have started life as fruit bombs, but for a good value napa merlot, they have matured nicely. Especially the 2013… it’s a right bank brother.

Aug 27th, 2021
Tom Casagrande

A very good value Merlot, if a tad too oaky for my taste. Nose has dark, plummy fruit, loads of gravel and graphite, and loads of toasty vanilla. A little less fleshy than expected in the mouth. More on the savory side with a bit of alcoholic pepperiness in the finish. Not bad at all for $21, though.

A very good value Merlot, if a tad too oaky for my taste. Nose has dark, plummy fruit, loads of gravel and graphite, and loads of toasty vanilla. A little less fleshy than expected in the mouth. More on the savory side with a bit of alcoholic pepperiness in the finish. Not bad at all for $21, though.

Feb 4th, 2021
Boris Mathiszik

Nice, simple Merlot.

Nice, simple Merlot.

Sep 28th, 2019
Adam Kincaid

Not a ton to say, not complex. Has a rose petal scent with a lot of muddled red fruit. Some vanilla. Fruit forward and medium/light body. Good acid.

Not a ton to say, not complex. Has a rose petal scent with a lot of muddled red fruit. Some vanilla. Fruit forward and medium/light body. Good acid.

Oct 7th, 2018
Michael Dossett

Needs at least 30 mins to breathe. Nice spice, strong black cherry. Short, smooth finish. Paired surprisingly well with teriyaki glazed chicken.

Needs at least 30 mins to breathe. Nice spice, strong black cherry. Short, smooth finish. Paired surprisingly well with teriyaki glazed chicken.

2 people found it helpfulApr 3rd, 2016
Mike Kerr

Shockingly good. Never would have guessed Cali Merlot can go this long

Shockingly good. Never would have guessed Cali Merlot can go this long

2 people found it helpfulMay 1st, 2015
Ray Vanderhoff

Plush and rich Merlot. Quite powerful and high in tannins. Aromas and flavors of dark plums and black fruits. Hints of leather, oak, baking spices, black licorice and grilled herbs. Long and velvety finish.

Plush and rich Merlot. Quite powerful and high in tannins. Aromas and flavors of dark plums and black fruits. Hints of leather, oak, baking spices, black licorice and grilled herbs. Long and velvety finish.

1 person found it helpfulApr 26th, 2021