Rutherford Hill
Napa Valley Merlot
Napa Valley, California, USA
It's time for some Merlot on this MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, light black pepper, herbs, light vanilla and licorice.
Tangy finish with soft tannins.
This 5-year-old Merlot from Napa Valley is peaking now, and drinking very nicely. Fruit forward with an elegant mouthfeel.
Wine Spectator 91 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good for parties. Good with food too.
A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$35.
It's time for some Merlot on this MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, light black pepper, herbs, light vanilla and licorice.
Tangy finish with soft tannins.
This 5-year-old Merlot from Napa Valley is peaking now, and drinking very nicely. Fruit forward with an elegant mouthfeel.
Wine Spectator 91 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good for parties. Good with food too.
A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$35.
Dark Ruby color with aromas of ripe berry fruit and herb spice. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry with leather, tobacco and cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, medium+ finish ending rich with herb mineral spice.
Dark Ruby color with aromas of ripe berry fruit and herb spice. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry with leather, tobacco and cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, medium+ finish ending rich with herb mineral spice.
Jun 19th, 2024It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim. Pretty color, but looks much older than it is.
Muted on the nose with black fruits, light wood and chocolate notes.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, licorice, light earth, herbs, spices, pencil lead, chocolates, light tobacco and peppercorn.
Medium minus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a nice entry level Merlot from Napa Valley. Smooth and elegant with nice complexity.
Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Rich and spicy with a nice mouthfeel.
This 5 year old is peaking now and will not continue to improve.
Good right out of the bottle and easy drinking. A good pop and pour kind of wine, but better after 30 minutes of airtime.
Wine Spectator 91 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. A good party wine.
A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$37.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim. Pretty color, but looks much older than it is.
Muted on the nose with black fruits, light wood and chocolate notes.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, licorice, light earth, herbs, spices, pencil lead, chocolates, light tobacco and peppercorn.
Medium minus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a nice entry level Merlot from Napa Valley. Smooth and elegant with nice complexity.
Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Rich and spicy with a nice mouthfeel.
This 5 year old is peaking now and will not continue to improve.
Good right out of the bottle and easy drinking. A good pop and pour kind of wine, but better after 30 minutes of airtime.
Wine Spectator 91 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. A good party wine.
A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$37.
Dark Ruby color with aromas of ripe berry fruit and herb spice. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry with leather, tobacco and cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, medium+ finish ending rich with herb mineral spice.
Dark Ruby color with aromas of ripe berry fruit and herb spice. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry with leather, tobacco and cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, medium+ finish ending rich with herb mineral spice.
Mar 30th, 2024Dark 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
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
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
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