2019 Napa Valley Merlot
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Tasting notes
A 70-30 blend of fruit from Napa and Sonoma, the 2019 Merlot includes 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose offers up hints of mint, cherry tomatoes and redcurrants, plus some riper notions of cherries and raspberries, while the medium to full-bodied palate is smooth and supple, marked by ripe, easygoing tannins and a softly dusty finish. The wine is already approachable but should drink well for close to a decade.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The classic 2019 Merlot comes 70% from Napa County and 30% from Sonoma County. It offers more black cherry and darker fruits as well as Bordeaux-like notes of cedarwood, damp earth, and spice. Medium-bodied on the palate, nicely balanced, and textured, it has a firmer edge that's going to soften with a year or two of bottle age. It should drink nicely through 2029.
The 2019 Merlot is very pretty in this vintage. Floral and spice notes give the Merlot a striking aromatic upper register that is both distinctive and alluring. Sweet red cherry, cinnamon and rose petal all build nicely in the glass. Best of all, the Pride Merlot will drink well right out of the gate.