DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Merriam Vineyards Windacre Vineyard Merlot 2014 (Russian River Valley, Sonoma) $34
This wine was made from a blend of Merlot (85%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) harvested from a vineyard on the eastern edge of Russian River Valley which experiences cool morning fog. Following fermentation, the wine was aged in French oak (25% new).
Aroma: Cherry, red cherry, black cherry, red raspberry, fragrant cassis, dried fruit, red pepper, licorice root, mineral, earthy, grain mash, old leather, Old World. Palate: Black raspberry, red raspberry, blackberry, plum, blue plum, anise, earthy, leather, hint of cedar, oak, good minerality, good acidity, sophisticated Old World balance, body that could stand up to a ribeye steak, expressive, elegant. Finish: Cherry, tart cherries, toasted cinnamon, earth, vibrant acidity and tannins, well made, balanced elegance, rich, velvet finish.
Double Gold Medal
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Ty Caton Vineyards Upper Bench Merlot 2016 – Caton Vineyard (Moon Mountain District, Sonoma County) $38
This 100% merlot was made from sustainably farmed grapes.
Aroma: Black cherry, classic cherry, ripe cherry, plum, rose petals, slightly smoky violets, roast asparagus, young vegetables, grass, canella, buttery, oak, elegant. Palate: Cherry, tart cherry, raspberry, blueberry, dark berry, plum, Kirschwasser, vegetables, tobacco, oak, sturdy tannins, very lean, good structure, Loire style. Finish: Black cherry, ripe cherry, raspberry, herbs, mineral, tannic, tannic oak, Old World style, rich, pleasing.
Double Gold Medal
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Reynolds Family Winery Merlot 2015 – Estate 200 Series (Stags Leap District, Napa Valley) $54
Following fermentation, this wine (made from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested from The Annapurna Vineyard) was aged for 18 months in French oak (45% new, 55% neutral) before bottling.
Aroma: Black plum, cherry, blackberry, blueberry, dark briar fruit, rose petal jam, olive oil, leather, mild oak, Bordeaux-like, elegant. Palate: Red plum, plum, blackberry, dark berry, strawberry, bright cherries, boiled cherries, blackcurrant, sandalwood, mineral, cigar, woody, slightly chewy, balanced, well-structured, Bordeaux-like. Finish: Black cherry, blackberry, herbs, stony, old oak, nice tannins, excellent length, soft, smooth.
Double Gold Medal
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Darioush 2014 Napa Valley Merlot (Napa Valley) $68
Made from 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot (grown in vineyards on Mt. Veeder and the Napa Valley floor), this wine was aged for almost two years in French oak barrels.
Aroma: Big black cherry, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, dense and deep red fruits, red grapes, faint dried fruit, dark chocolate, violet, light tobacco, mineral. Palate: Black cherry, sweet cherry, blackberry, strawberry, juicy black fruit, tea leaves, tobacco, leather, graphite, earthy, sweet oak, balanced tannins, clean, rich. Finish: Plum, some cherry, fenugreek, dry cedar, tannic bite, soft, well-balanced, good length.
Double Gold Medal
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GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Bonterra Merlot 2016 (Mendocino County) Certified organic. $14
Following harvest, lots of Merlot were fermented separately with small amounts of Petite Sirah and Malbec added to the final blend. Aging was conducted in a combination of French and American oak (45% new) for12 months before bottling.
Aroma: Black cherry, tart cherry, blackberry, currant, apple, floral, sandalwood, herbal, mirepoix, cream, butter, Old World elegance. Palate: Cherry, blackberry, lemon, citrus, herbal, licorice, mineral, tobacco, toasted cherry wood, cedar, fresh oak, lean Old World style, smooth, pleasant. Finish: Blackberry, currants, mild green vegetables, bay leaf, herbs, licorice, mineral, graphite, tannic, fresh-sawn oak.
Gold Medal
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Fetzer Eagle Peak Merlot 2016 (Mendocino County) $11
Following harvest, this 100% Merlot was fermented in stainless steel tanks.
Aroma: Dark cherry, black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, plum, dark plum, plummy, cassis, dried cherry, green apple, slight underbrush, peppery, wet leather, juniper ash, cherry wood. Palate: Black cherry, dark cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, currants, light plum, cola, leather, tobacco, wood, cedar, fresh sawn oak, big tannins. Finish: Black cherry, dark cherry, sweet and sour cherries, bitter melon, clove, leather, earthy, tannic.
Gold Medal
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Joseph Cellars Merlot 2013 (Oakville, Napa Valley) $125
Following fermentation, this 100% Merlot was aged in French oak (95% new) for 20 months before bottling.
Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, currant, dried cherry, toasted mustard seed, slightly smoky, oak. Palate: Sharp cherry, currant, blackcurrant, cassis, energetic dark fruit, dried cherry, tart grape, soft vanilla, black pepper, tobacco, tannic, nice tannins. Finish: Some cherry, tea leaves, menthol, tobacco, cherrywood, hardwood, well balanced.
Gold Medal
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Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Rosso Di Sette Fratelli Merlot 2015 (Carneros, Sonoma) $25
This wine was fashioned from 96% Merlot and 4% Aleatico grapes that were fermented over 7 days and aged in French oak barrels (35% new) for 15 months before bottling.
Aroma: Bold cherry, dark ripe cherries, cherry juice, floral, slight vegetal, black pepper, cloves, funky Old World herbal, cocoa powder, milk chocolate, tobacco. Palate: Dark cherry, cherry juice, plum, strawberry, blackberry, currants, fruit bomb, earthy, farmland freshness, leather, graphite, cigar, Cameroon tobacco, oak, soft. Finish: Black plum, cherry, bright cherry, cherry juice, cumin, clove, old oak, tannic, musty, funky, big, edgy.
Gold Medal
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Anthem Mt. Veeder Estate Merlot 2015 (Napa Valley) $75
This wine, made from Merlot (99.2%), Cabernet Sauvignon (0.7%) and Petit Verdot (0.1%), underwent whole berry fermentation over 3 weeks in bins. It was then aged in 100% new French oak for 17 months before bottling.
Aroma: Blackberry, currants, stone fruit, black fruit, dried figs, chocolate, floral, jasmine, warm leather. Palate: Black plum, dark plum, black cherry, tart cherry, juicy black briar fruit, chocolate, green pepper, clove, spicy, sharp tobacco, leather, earthy, oak, nice tannins, big tannins, good structure, complex. Finish: Dark cherry, berries, currants, green pepper, clove, leather, tobacco, Connecticut tobacco, earthy, oak, tannic, fruit persists.
Gold Medal
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Ca’ Momi Heartcraft Merlot 2016 (Napa Valley) $16
Following fermentation, this 100% Merlot was aged for 8 months in a combination of French and American oak.
Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry, currants, cassis, plum, chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, light raw tobacco, cedar, oak, rich, bold. Palate: Cherry, black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, black plum, pomegranate, violet, chocolate, vanilla, tea leaves, spicy, strong tobacco, leather, earth, smoke, oak, soft tannins, rich, complex. Finish: Sultanas, chocolate, vanilla, cotton candy, tea leaves, spicy, leather, earth, oak, tannins, complex.
Gold Medal
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SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
Peachy Canyon Merlot 2016 (Paso Robles) $25
This 100% Merlot was fermented in bins and aged in French oak barrels for 20 months prior to bottling.
Aroma: Black cherry, dark plum, lightly plummy, red currant, Welch’s Concord grape juice, papaya, raisin, saffron, maduro tobacco, tobacco, leather, light wood. Palate: Black cherry, bright cherry, blackberry, lingonberry, dark plum, lightly plummy, concord grape, sandstone, soft tannins. Finish: Cherry, strawberry, grape jelly, raw papaya, herbal, Maduro ash, oak, good length.
Silver Medal
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Luna Vineyards Howell Mountain Merlot 2015 (Napa Valley) $85
Following four weeks of fermentation in open top tanks, this 100% Merlot was aged for 29 months in French oak barrels (65% new).
Aroma: Blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, plum, currants, dark cherry, black cherry juice, dried berries, fresh-cut grass, dandelion greens, clean. Palate: Black cherry, bright cherry, sweet tart cherries, sour cherry, plums, red plums, black raspberry, raspberry, cranberries, bitter herbs, tobacco leaves, light mineral, dry oak. Finish: Plums, bright fruit, black cherry juice, cherry pits.
Silver Medal
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Frey Vineyards North Coast Merlot 2016 (North Coast) Certified organic. $15
This 100% Merlot was produced without the addition of sulfites.
Aroma: Plum, green apple, gingerbread, floral, clove, wet tobacco earth, oak. Palate: Plum, black plum, black raspberry, cherry, dark chocolate, spice, earthy, potting soil, funky, oak, soft. Finish: Cherry, dry cherry, tobacco, fruit-driven, big tannins, elegant.
Silver Medal
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