DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Darioush
2014 Napa Valley Merlot
(Napa Valley) $55

This wine is a blend of Merlot (87%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and Merlot (1%) that was primarily aged in new oak (80%) prior to bottling.

Aroma: Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, heavy berries, stewed berry, taffy, red velvet cake, cocoa, chocolate, leather, minerals.
Palate: Bright cherry, strawberry, blackberry, plum, blueberry, juicy, pineapple, dried raspberries, stewed cherry, chocolate, woody, earth, balanced tannins, gripping tannins, fruit-forward—well paired with cheese, easy-drinker.
Finish: Bright fruits, green grass, cedar, good acidity, firm tannins, chewy, cabernet-like, clean, soft, very smooth, rich.

Double Gold Medal

Cline Cellars
2014 Merlot
(Sonoma Coast) $22

Grapes for this 100% Merlot hailed from the producer’s Carneros Home Vineyard and Lazy C Estate Vineyard. Following hand-picking, destemming and fermentation in a stainless steel tank, approximately 35% of the wine was aged in new French oak for 14 months.

Aroma: Black cherries, red cherries, dark cherries, cranberry, stewed blackberry, butterscotch, caramel, Thai basil, wet leather, earth, oak, subtle smoke.
Palate: Ripe cherries, black cherry, cassis, currants, raisins, plum sauce, demerara sugar, cream, maple candy, chocolate, violet, liqueur, smoke, meaty, woody, strong tannins, well-balanced, smooth.
Finish: Cherry, plum, cassis, unripe cherries, honey, subtle pepper, inherent meatiness, leather, soft, smooth, fun.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Hourglass
2015 Blueline Estate Merlot
(Napa Valley) $72

Following fermentation, this blend of estate grown Merlot (81%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%), Petit Verdot (3%), Malbec (2%) and Cabernet Franc (1%) was aged for 17 months in primarily new French oak (73%) before bottling.

Aroma: Bright cherry, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, plum, red plum, currants, cassis, dried cherries, cinnamon spice, tart, funk.
Palate: Black cherry, dark cherry, blackberry, blueberries, plum, stewed fruit, stewed cherry, burnt cherries, chocolate, vanilla, rich cola, leather, smoke, oak, tannic, balanced fruit, good body and structure.
Finish: Sweet cherry, blueberries, orange peel, creamy, leather, smoke, oak, silky heavy tannins, balanced, full-flavored, coats the mouth, rich, intense, very nice, really smooth, can be drunk without food.

Gold Medal

Grgich Hills Estate
2014 Napa Valley Merlot
(Napa Valley) $43

Grapes for this 100% Merlot were organically farmed, fermented using indigenous yeast and the wine was aged in 60 gallon French oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months before bottling.

Aroma: Black cherry, strawberries, blackberries, currants, plum, juicy, raspberry Twizzler, rose petals, mocha, coffee, licorice, leather, cigar smoke, forest floor.
Palate: Black cherries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, plum, sage, leather, soft tannins.
Finish: Blackberries, dried plums, chocolate, dry tannins, nice fruit, balanced.

Gold Medal

Cornerstone Cellars
2013 Napa Valley Merlot
(Oakville) $50

Only 105 cases of this wine were made, with grapes from cool-climate Stewart Vineyard in Carneros (65%), Ink Grade Vineyard on Howell Mountain (22%) and the remainder from Oakville Station Vineyard.

Aroma: Black cherries, dark cherries, plum, lingonberries, currant, cassis, dried cherry, vanilla, hints of violet, thyme, menthol, tobacco, wet leather, wet wood, oak, smoke, nice, gentle.
Palate: Black cherries, dark cherries, ripe cherries, black raspberry, ripe strawberry, dark berry, currants, stewed berry, rhubarb, vanilla, herbal, bitter herbs, mint, black pepper, graphite, earthy, dirt, oak, smoke, cigar smoke, Bordeaux-like, fresh.
Finish: Chocolate, leather, earthy, smoke, oak, medium tannins, rich, full-bodied, soft, smooth, velvety.

Gold Medal

Leese - Fitch
2015 Merlot
(California) $12

This wine is a blend of Merlot (90%), Cabernet Sauvignon (6%), Petite Sirah (2%) and Zinfandel (2%) sourced from both cool and warm climate areas.

Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, dark plum, stewed cherry, chocolate, licorice, rosemary, clove, peppercorn, spice, mint, damp moss, stewed beef, tobacco, smoke.
Palate: Cherry, black cherry, blackberry, strawberry, currant, plum, blackberry preserves, dried cherry, chocolate, vanilla, floral, tea leaves, tobacco, smoky, earthy.
Finish: Cherry, subtle stone fruit, berry-forward, dark chocolate, oak, soft tannins, smoky, smooth.

Gold Medal

Robert Hall
2015 Merlot
(Paso Robles) $20

Following fermentation, this wine (made from a blend of 85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petite Verdot) was aged in a combination of French and Eastern European oak for 18 months prior to bottling.

Aroma: Cherry, raspberry, blueberry, smoked cherry jam, strawberry cream, strawberry yogurt, peach, menthol, basil, clove, leather.
Palate: Black cherry, cherry, concentrated dark cherry, plums, white plums, fresh plums, blackberry, strawberry, cassis, light steamed blueberry, cherry tart, licorice, earthy tones, smoky, cigar, cedar, balanced acidity.
Finish: Rose petals, tea leaves, earthy, oak, hint of smokiness, silky tannins, port-like.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Rocca Family Vineyards
2014 Merlot, Grigsby Vineyard
(Yountville, Napa Valley) $55

Made from organically farmed Merlot grapes (100%), following fermentation this wine was aged in small French oak barrels (60% new) for 17 months prior to bottling.

Aroma: Cherries, black cherry, berries, light berry, sweet black stewed cherries, chocolate cake, banana pudding, mint, wet grass, licorice, leather, damp charred wood, earth, super-lean.
Palate: Cherries, plum, ripe red fruit, black currant, dried strawberry, strong sweet lychee, grape, stewed apple, apple pie, perfume, basil, spicy, white pepper, black pepper, oaky, tannic.
Finish: Cherry, light strawberries, dried cherries, chocolate, nutmeg, mulled wine, cigar smoke, tannic.

Silver Medal

Line 39
2016 Merlot
(Central Coast) $11

Grapes for this wine hailed from Lodi and Monterey, with stainless-steel fermentation and aging for 7 months in French oak before bottling.

Aroma: Bing cherries, black cherry, raspberry, blackberry soda, eucalyptus, spearmint, Thai basil, sauerkraut, pickle, brine, wet earth, funky.
Palate: Cherry, black cherry, stewed cherry, blackberries, blueberries, well-balanced fruit, sweet strawberry, pineapple, fruitcake, cola, bruschetta, bell pepper, earthy, leather.
Finish: Cherry, strawberry, oak, medium tannins.

Silver Medal