Kelham Vineyards
Oakville Merlot
Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA
2006 Kelham Vineyards Merlot – Oakville, Napa Valley
An absolute showstopper. The king of the hill in the Kelham lineup, and easily one of the most sensual, ultra-soft, and luscious Merlots I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. This vintage captures the essence of Kelham Vineyards at its most expressive.
On the nose, it’s a dream: ripe red and black cherries, cocoa powder, sweet vanilla, and the savory lift of green olive, dried herbs, and tobacco leaf. Every aromatic hint finds its way onto the palate, what you smell is precisely what you taste. That aromatic-to-palate symmetry? Remarkably rare.
Flavors of plum, cherry, and blackberry unfold seamlessly, with those earthy, savory notes adding dimension. The texture is plush but structured. Tannins are firm, yet silky and sweet. My first sip had that chewy, velvety grip that only a well-aged, meticulously crafted Merlot can deliver. The finish? Stretches gracefully for over 5–7 seconds.
Vintner Ronald Nicholson, whom I had the chance to meet, described this wine as one of tremendous balance and lingering beauty. I couldn’t agree more. It’s aging like a legend, and still has a long, thriving runway ahead.
This was the perfect finale to my Kelham journey, and the undisputed winner.
Cheers!
2006 Kelham Vineyards Merlot – Oakville, Napa Valley
An absolute showstopper. The king of the hill in the Kelham lineup, and easily one of the most sensual, ultra-soft, and luscious Merlots I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. This vintage captures the essence of Kelham Vineyards at its most expressive.
On the nose, it’s a dream: ripe red and black cherries, cocoa powder, sweet vanilla, and the savory lift of green olive, dried herbs, and tobacco leaf. Every aromatic hint finds its way onto the palate, what you smell is precisely what you taste. That aromatic-to-palate symmetry? Remarkably rare.
Flavors of plum, cherry, and blackberry unfold seamlessly, with those earthy, savory notes adding dimension. The texture is plush but structured. Tannins are firm, yet silky and sweet. My first sip had that chewy, velvety grip that only a well-aged, meticulously crafted Merlot can deliver. The finish? Stretches gracefully for over 5–7 seconds.
Vintner Ronald Nicholson, whom I had the chance to meet, described this wine as one of tremendous balance and lingering beauty. I couldn’t agree more. It’s aging like a legend, and still has a long, thriving runway ahead.
This was the perfect finale to my Kelham journey, and the undisputed winner.
Cheers!