Merlot, Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley, CA, 2023

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Article code: JS 94 PTS

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$42.95

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Overview

2023 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot earned 94 pts from James Suckling and 92 pts from Michael Cervin. Critics praised its plum, blackberry and blue-fruit flavors, bright acidity, polished tannins, balance, elegance and long finish.

Details

Reviewer	Score	Comments
James Suckling	94 points	Called it "a lovely wine" with black and blue fruit, herbs, spices, bright acidity, and refined tannins; "very well-balanced and refined."
Michael Cervin (IntoWine)	92 points (A grade)	Praised blueberry, blackberry, plum, vanilla, toasted oak, floral notes, and overall drinkability, saying "grabbing a bottle... is never a wrong decision."

Winemaker's tasting notes

Duckhorn describes the wine as showing:

Red currant, raspberry, black plum
Baking spices, cardamom, rhubarb crumble
Milk chocolate, cocoa powder
Silky texture with fine-grained tannins and a bright finish

Blend: 78% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc; 14.5% alcohol.

Vintage assessment

The 2023 Napa growing season was unusually cool and long, with delayed budbreak and harvest extending into November. Many producers have reported excellent balance, freshness, and acidity in the resulting wines, and Duckhorn notes that the reds are supple, vibrant, and intensely colored.

Overall consensus

Based on the available professional reviews, the 2023 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot is currently tracking in the 92–94 point range, with critics emphasizing:

Excellent balance
Fresh acidity
Polished tannins
Classic Napa Merlot plum and dark-fruit character
Good value relative to many Napa reds in its price category

Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting classic Napa Valley wines for nearly 40 years. This winemaking tradition has grown to include seven meticulously farmed Estate vineyards, located throughout the various microclimates of the Napa Valley. Focused on quality and consistency, these Estate vineyards are an essential element in making wines of distinction. Pioneering and perfecting Merlot as a premium varietal, Duckhorn Vineyards now makes several elegant Merlot and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings that showcase its premium vineyard sites. Duckhorn Vineyards has been named one of the “Top 100 Wineries” in the world eight times by Wine & Spirits, and the 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard was named the “2017 Wine of the Year,” topping Wine Spectator’s annual list of the world’s “Top 100 Wines.”