Wine & Food | Professor Bainbridge

Duckhorn Merlot (Napa Valley) 2001

Two prior notes:

Title	Excerpt	Date
Duckhorn Merlot (Napa Valley) 2001	Since last noted in June 2004, the 2001 Duckhorn Merlot has mellowed quite a lot. In this bottle, at least, the tannins are round and smooth. Soft, sweet dark fruits dominate this delicious wine, which also offers a long and perfumed finish. At $45/bottle, this wine is perhaps a tad…	08/27/05
Duckhorn Merlot (Napa Valley) 2001	The 2001 Merlot is a delicious, inky wine. Good dark fruits, with an aftertaste of toasty vanilla. A shade too tannic for immediate consumption, although it goes well with a richly sauced beef dish. A wine for the cellar. Grade: A-	06/18/04

Tonight this bottle was in prime drinking condition. The tannins had melted away, leaving behind a silky, soft wine that was a perfect match for roasted beef tenderloin. Herbaceous dark fruits provide the dominant flavor associations, with well-integrated toasty oak. Grade: A-

Posted on Sunday, May 18 2008 | Permalink

Hi Prof. Bainbridge, former student here (Corps at UCLAW, 1996). I haven’t had the Duckhorn Merlot yet. I’ve enjoyed the Duckhorn Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (2004) a few times, and have one still cellared, as well as 2 x 2005. Big, lush nose. On the palate, dark plums, cola, mushrooms, sweetness, leather, tobacco, earth, and oak. Probably as far away from a restrained Burgundy as you can get, but if you like the style, it’s a lot of fun and I recommend it highly.

Posted by Brian Ross on 05/21 at 06:51 PM

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