USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Composed of 82% Merlot and 18% Malbec, the 2016 Merlot Mt. Veeder has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with sexy spiced plums, warm blueberries and potpourri scents with hints of fragrant earth, violets and dark chocolate. Full, rich, firm and oh-so-plush, it has a decantently fruited palate and a very long finish with some licorice hints coming through.

This delicious wine helps to chip away at the widespread stereotype that Merlot is a second-rate grape of a rather wimpy nature. Serious students of wine have always known that was merely a stereotype, but of course, wine shouldn't just be for “serious students” but for all of those who enjoy fine things in life. Moreover, those who’ve been hoodwinked by the stereotype aren’t usually to blame. There really was a lot of wimpy Merlot made over the years to be drunk as a cocktail, and then, the general sense that those wines were what the variety should be had the result of dumbing-down the category to prevent consumer disappointment. But enough diagnosis… let’s get on with the prescription: This is the cure for a whole host of mis-impressions, with excellent color saturation, rather brooding but still notable aromatics, truly full body, deep and quite ripe flavors recalling blackberries and dark cherries, a notable edge of oak, and a gutsy finish. Definitely a wine for the table rather than the bar, it is nevertheless very enjoyable right now with food, and wasn’t over-extracted or over-oaked to prove a point. Yet it does, indeed, prove a point.

Washington Wine Blog Top 100 of 2018 - #47 The Mt. Brave ‘Mt. Veeder’ Merlot is a stunning wine crafted by superstar winemaker Chris Carpenter. This takes on tar, mocha and anise with blackberry compote on the nose. The palate is plush, showing a marvelous texture and mouthfeel. Coffee grounds, anise, creme de cassis, red bell pepper and blackberry cobbler flavors all nicely mingle in the glass. This is a remarkable Merlot that is best enjoyed following a two plus hour decant.

Very deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Merlot Mt. Veeder gives evocative crushed black berry, blueberry and ripe plums with touches of pencil shavings, dried mint and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, firmly textured and with impressive freshness lifting the ripe black fruits, it has a lovely mint and spicy character coming through on the long finish.

From a site that reaches up to 1,800 feet and dates back grape-growing wise to before the Civil War, this wine is bold and beautiful. It’s a study in dusty leather, black pepper and cigar, allowing sauvage, savory aspects to speak louder than fruit. Full bodied and robustly structured, it offers a memorable Tahitian-vanilla note on the finish.

The 2013 Merlot exhibits deep mulberry and black cherry fruit, chocolate, cocoa, a good bit of spice, a plump, fleshy, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and serious length. This blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Malbec is impressive, but sadly, there are only 373 cases.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 One of the highlights in this range, the 2016 Cabernet Franc is gorgeous. Aromatically nuanced and deeply-pitched, the 2016 has so much to offer. This is an especially pliant, resonant style, but it works quite nicely. Varietal aromas and flavors are given an extra kick of richness in this striking Franc from Mt. Brave. Give it a few years in bottle to come into its own.

This is 100% varietal and remarkably impressive, true to its grape in earthy aromas of violet and sage. The mountainous appellation contributes girth and breadth, as well as densely layered texture and grip. Around the fullness are beautiful flavors of chocolate, graham cracker and blueberry. This will cellar well; enjoy best 2025–2030.

I loved the 2014 Cabernet Franc from this team. It has classic floral and mineral notes as well as blueberry and red currant fruit, medium-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, and a clean, focused, lengthy finish. It's already hard to resist (and I see no need to delay gratification) but it’s capable of lasting for 10-15 years.

This is filled with lush cassis, boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors, supported by dense, lush tannins. The finish is polished, with anise and roasted apple wood notes seamlessly integrated throughout, with a tarry echo at the very end keeping this grounded. A modern expression of mountain fruit.

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is another Mt. Brave wine that is going to need cellaring. The 2015 plays a big game, with huge fruit and equally imposing tannins. Deep, inky and ample, the 2015 is very hard to read today. That won't be an issue in a few years, but today, the Cabernet is a forbidding, young Mt. Veeder wine endowed with serious intensity in all of its dimensions.

Top Ten: California Mt. Brave Vineyard sits high atop Mt. Veeder at 1,400 to 1,800 feet. The estate, on the western flank of Napa Valley, is named for the native Wappos who first called it home. Mt. Veeder has been planted to wine grapes since the early 1860s while Mt. Brave Vineyard dates back to 1841—before the Gold Rush and the Civil War. The site is all about high elevation and thin, rocky soils that present many winegrowing challenges. Four cabernet clones (191, 4, 8, and 337) and three rootstocks (3309C, 101-14, and 1103P) neutralise some of the issues in what is a slow moving, long, cool growing season above the fog line. The wine fermented in stainless steel and goes through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels (80 percent new). After some 19 months of barrel ageing it is bottled without fining or filtration. The season was perfect, yielding flavourful floral, blueberry notes with stony mineral whiffs. The palate is firm with rich, dense tannins, black raspberry/blackberry fruit and dried herbs. A real mountain wine that will need time. The blend is 82/7/6.5/4.5 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec and cabernet franc. Cellar for a decade or two.

Mt. Brave Vineyard sits high atop Mt. Veeder at 1,400 to 1,800 feet. The estate, on the western flank of Napa Valley, is named for the native Wappos who first called it home. Mt. Veeder has been planted to wine grapes since the early 1860s while Mt. Brave Vineyard dates back to 1841—before the Gold Rush and the Civil War. The site is all about high elevation and thin, rocky soils that present many winegrowing challenges. Four cabernet clones (191, 4, 8, and 337) and three rootstocks (3309C, 101-14, and 1103P) neutralise some of the issues in what is a slow moving, long, cool growing season above the fog line. The wine fermented in stainless steel and goes through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels (80 percent new). After some 19 months of barrel ageing it is bottled without fining or filtration. The season was perfect, yielding flavourful floral, blueberry notes with stony mineral whiffs. The palate is firm with rich, dense tannins, black raspberry/blackberry fruit and dried herbs. A real mountain wine that will need time. The blend is 82/7/6.5/4.5 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec and cabernet franc. Cellar for a decade or two.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous. Blueberry, blackberry, cloves, menthol, spices and licorice are all woven together in a Cabernet Sauvignon that is relatively soft and supple for a mountain wine. Sweet perfumed notes flesh out on a highly expressive finish laced with violets, jasmine and lavender. Dollops of Merlot and Cabernet Franc round out the blend. This is an absolutely beautiful bottle of wine.

Fantastically concentrated with blackberry, cassis and dark chocolate flavors that are wrapped into massive tannins, this impressive Cab defines Mount Veeder’s early deliciousness coupled with ageability. It’s just beginning to soften and show what it can do. It’s still a tight, hard young wine whose elegance will allow it to evolve over the next 8–12 years.

Deep ruby color; spicy berry nose; smooth and dense with black raspberry, cassis and plum; lush and ripe, balanced and rich with vanilla and sweet oak; bright and long.

Amazingly rich and voluptuous, this shows none of the rustic edges that can sometimes plague Malbec. It's concentrated in blackberry jam and black currant flavors, with a jacket of smoky oak. The alcohol is high, but not overbearing. This really asserts itself with the customary power and authority of a great Mount Veeder red. Wonderful now, but should continue to develop for at least 10-15 years.

Made from 100% Malbec sourced from Mount Veeder at the old Chateau Potelle vineyard, this is arguably one of the best Malbecs from California ever. It's dark in color, dense in texture and full bodied, offering bone-dry blackberry flavors that are wrapped with hard tannins. Nowhere near ready to drink now, although consuming it with a steak will help mellow it. Hold until 2015, at least.

This estate-grown syrah is vibrant from the color- a beautiful violet edge to black - right through to the expressive finish - red edges to black fruit, scents of flint, orange zest, rosewater. The complex layers form an aromatic density, all built on a bright berry and deeper, beefier flavor. Decant a bottle for lamb with couscous and Provencal herbs.

The 2017s From Sonoma The 2016 Merlot Keyes Vineyard from Howell Mountain is another rocking effort that has loads to love. Ripe blackcurrants, black cherries, bay leaf, cedar, and scorched earth all flow from this medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced Merlot. Made from 100% Merlot brought up in 40% new French oak, it has ample upfront appeal, yet I suspect it will cruise for 10-15 years in cool cellars.

A younger, more angular version of Matanzas Creek’s splendid 2012 version, the 2015 has less complexity and fewer savory notes at this stage. The tannins are a hint more apparent and perhaps a touch aggressive, yet the balance is still wonderful. With air, earthy notes and a delightful hint of funkiness comes out, indicating to me that this wine will develop beautifully. The family resemblance is apparent. If your budget allows it, buy them both — the 2012 for this year’s roasted leg of lamb and the 2015 for one in a few years.

The 2015 Journey Red is a significant step up (in price as well) and checks in as 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 46% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied beauty gives up loads of black cherry fruits, notes of tobacco, bay leaf, and cedar, ultra-fine tannin, and an elegant, seamless style on the palate. It has loads of character and should be capable of drinking well for a decade.

Dense and rich with ripe plum, cassis and toasty vanilla oak; velvety, intense and balanced with spice, hints of mint and chocolate; seamless and complete, long and exceptional. 88.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.7% Merlot, 4.6% Malbec, 0.1% Petit Verdot.

The '01 Matanzas merlot is intense, to say the least. We love the sophisticated, toasted, smoky oak vanilla aromas streaked with pepper, chocolate and black plum jam. It is packed full of toasted oak, coffee, chocolate, plum jam and orange peel flavours. Smooth and polished, perhaps the best merlot yet from Matanzas Creek, drinkable but you could easily cellar for five or more years.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Desvelado is a blend of roughly equal parts Malbec and Merlot, plus a drop of Petit Verdot. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, leather and cedar run through this racy, boisterous red from Matanzas Creek. Best of all, the Desvelado will drink well pretty much upon release.