2016 Plumpjack Merlot Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Merlot Napa Valley (there's a splash of Malbec in the blend) reveals a deep purple/ruby color to go with plenty of black cherry, espresso, crushed rock, and graphite aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied, firm tannins, terrific purity, and ample length, give bottles 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following decades.
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Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Merlot is just as gorgeous from bottle as it was from barrel. Savory, aromatic and dense, the Merlot is a serious wine with a lot to offer. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, game, cedar and licorice all run through this super-expressive, nuanced Merlot. Time in the glass brings out a more floral, red-toned character in the fruit. The 2016 is a blend of Oak Knoll Merlot and Malbec from the estate.
Containing a 4% splash of Malbec, the deep purple-black colored 2016 Merlot opens with notions of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves, spice cake and black pepper with hints of garrigue and wild sage. Full-bodied and boldly fruited in the mouth, the juicy black fruit is well framed by rounded tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and spicy.
The 2016 Merlot is aromatically expressive and dense, a combination that is hugely appealing. Sage, mint, licorice, chocolate, lavender and black cherry jam run through this large-scaled, beautifully resonant Merlot. The interplay of elements here is really quite striking. There is quite a bit to look forward to. A dollop of Malbec rounds out the blend.