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2018 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Rector Creek Vineyard

2018 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Rector Creek Vineyard

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$130.00
/ 750ml
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Rector Creek Vineyard is located north of the town of Yountville along the Silverado Trail. A unique climate featuring a cooling afternoon breeze combined with Rector Creek’s rocky alluvial soils creates excellent growing conditions for the vines. As a result, Rector Creek produces an elegant expression of Merlot with attractive blueberry and allspice aromatics, velvety structure and refined character highlighting classic notes of spicy plum.

Wine Spectator
91
Wine Enthusiast
91

Wine Profile

Production Notes
Varietal Composition: 100% estate fruit; 88.6% Merlot, 11.4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker Notes
The 2018 growing season produced a gorgeous expression of Rector Creek Merlot, with alluring aromas, velvety tannins and vibrant berry flavors. On the nose, notes of ripe red raspberry and strawberry mingle with deeper aromas of black plum, currant, cola and sweet spices. The ripe berry layers are echoed on the palate, alongside flavors of fig, violet and bittersweet chocolate, with supple, fine-grained tannins and a sleek underlying energy carrying the wine to a long, dynamic finish.
Production
For both red and white grapes, 2018 offered near picture-perfect growing conditions, with mild spring and summer weather, and no significant heat events. The conditions were ideal for both our Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, which show beautiful tropical notes and ripe flavors at low sugars. While our Chardonnay harvest began about three weeks later than normal, the fruit arrived at the winery in pristine condition, producing dynamic and complex wines. The excellent growing conditions naturally resulted in a slightly larger than average crop for our red Bordeaux varieties, with fully lignified seeds at low sugars levels. With temperate weather throughout fall, we were able to pick each block at optimal ripeness, yielding exceptionally juicy and polished red wines, with plush, well-rounded tannins, and lovely overall structure.

Wine Specs

Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Napa Valley
Vineyard Designation
Rector Creek Vineyard
Acid
0.6 g/100 ml
pH
3.68
Aging
100% French Oak: 75% New, 25% Neutral, aged for 18 months
Alcohol %
14.5
Wine Spectator
91
Wine Enthusiast
91

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Add To Cart
$130.00
/ 750ml
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Standard Bottle

750ml

5 - 5oz Glasses

Serves 2-4

Magnum

1.5 Liters

2 Standard Bottles

Serves 4-5

Double Magnum or Jeroboam

3 Liters

4 Standard Bottles

Serves 6-8

Imperial

6 Liters

8 Standard Bottles

Serves 12-16

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