Search: Merlot, USA

Dark cherries, rich chocolate and a hint of oaky sweetness abound in this merlot. For anyone who doesn’t know this grape, a glass could be a mind-altering event. A stellar example of why Rutherford Hill is King of the Merlot world. Sufficient easy charms to work on its own as an aperitif; enough going on to complement a long list of edibles. More uses than a Swiss Army knife and much easier to operate. Enjoy!

This Merlot exhibits bright red cherry and currant fruit aromas and flavors. Canoe Ridge Estate expresses itself in this way in most of the reds. We allow this Merlot to stay a little more refined and elegant, accenting it with spicy, restrained French oak, while retaining plenty of that trademark Washington concentration.

“This classic Washington state Merlot offers aromatics of spice, blackberry, and chocolate which lead into a balanced palate of velvety-textured fruit and tannins. The long, seductive finish lingers.” -Ray Einberger, Winemaker

The 2005 vintage Marilyn Merlot is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. We prefer the added flavors and structure that Cabernet gives to the predominately Merlot based wine. The addition of 30% new oak barrels for this vintage gives the appropriate aromas of toasted oak and a more complex mouth feel from the new oak tannins. The fruit flavors are soft and mature. Vineyards for this wine continue to be from our longtime growers ranging in location from Yountville to St. Helena in the middle of the Napa Valley.

Developed and intense fruit from this harvest has produced one of our most full-bodied merlots yet! Deep cherry fruit hits both the nose and palate upon the first sip, followed by soft hints of summer anise. Touches of pipe tobacco and spicy oak lend weight to the finish, trailed by firm, assertive tannins.

French for 'inspiration', La Muse is crafted primarily from Merlot fruit and represents a Pomerol-style wine. This wine's distinctive fruit purity in the nose and richness on the palate is the result of sourcing grapes from the Mayacamas Mountain in Sonoma.