Duckhorn Vineyards 2002 Howell Mountain Merlot

Don Davis' Uncorked Events, wine of the night.

Duckhorn has been sourcing fruit from Howell Mountain for over 25 years and doing a Howell Mountain bottling since 1989 (they own two vineyards there that cover 64 acres).    This fruit was harvested from the Stout Vineyard (the second is Candlestick), it's a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 20 months in French Oak and a full year of bottle aging before release.

The complexity on the nose and mid-palate was astonishing:  leather, dark chocolate, tobacco, black pepper accentuated the black fruit.   This wine will stand up against the best St. Emilions in a blind tasting.

$70; 93 points

Bottom Line:  One of the better Merlots in Napa Valley.