DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Melka Mekerra Merlot 2015
(Knights Valley, Sonoma County) $180

Only 150 cases were made of this 100% Merlot that following fermentation was aged in French oak (60% new) for 19 months before bottling.

Aroma: Cherries, black cherry, dried cherries, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, Granny Smith apple, sugar-crusted pie crust, chocolate note, bell pepper, menthol, smooth leather, oak.
Palate: Bing cherry, dried cherries, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry jam, concentrated plum, good young fruit, spiced figs, vanilla, chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, walnuts, tobacco, oak, soft, well put together.
Finish: Dark cherry, raspberry, blackberries, vanilla, tobacco, touch of oak, big, delicate.

Double Gold Medal

Darioush Napa Valley Merlot 2015
(Napa) $61

This wine was made from a blend of 94% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Malbec from vineyards atop Mt. Veder and on the Napa Valley floor – with the varietals harvested, fermented and aged separately and then blended before bottling.

Aroma: Blackberry, black currant, lots of ripe fruit, bell pepper, wet grass, tobacco, eucalyptus, menthol, mineral, wet rocks, earthy.
Palate: Blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, red plum, currant, cassis, burnt cherries, vanilla, spice.
Finish: Blackberry, blueberry, vanilla, cocoa, soil, granite, soft tannins, smooth.

Double Gold Medal

Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Merlot 2016
(Napa Valley) $41

This 100% Merlot, made from certified organic grapes and fermented using indigenous yeast, was aged in oak for 18 months before bottling.

Aroma: Plum, dried plum, dark chocolate, dry cocoa, sourdough bread, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, tobacco, earth, granite.
Palate: Black cherry, strawberry, burst of dried apricot, cassis, red apple skins, mushroom, burnt pepper, spice, tobacco, leather, tannins, subtle layers of flavors, smooth, beautiful.
Finish: Dark cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, leather, potting soil, heavy tannins, classic European, elegant.

Double Gold Medal

Frey Biodynamic Merlot 2016
(Mendocino)  Organic
BEST VALUE  $20

This wine was made from 100% estate-grown Merlot and fermented in stainless steel using indigenous yeast, and then aged in stainless steel before bottling.

Aroma: Blackberry, blueberry, high elevation fruit, green tea, dried herbs, rosemary, thyme, new leather, wet stone, earthy, a layer of funk, intriguing.
Palate: Plum, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, rich baked berry, apple, juicy, vanilla, spice, spicy, mineral, stone, balanced tannin, very appealing, explosive.
Finish: Cherry, blueberry, roasted coffee, spicy, wet granite, soil, tannins, super lean, vibrant.

Double Gold Medal

Bonterra Merlot 2017
(Mendocino)  Organic
BEST VALUE  $16

Made primarily from Merlot (with the addition of small amounts of Petite Verdot and Malbec), that following fermentation was aged for 12 months in a combination of French and American oak (45% new) before bottling.

Aroma: Strawberry, strawberry jam, raspberry, plum, red plum, dates, black olives, dried herbs, bay leaf, rooibos tea, focused nose, rich.
Palate: Plum, red plum, raspberry, blackberry, strawberries, sour cherries, roses, black tea, leather, smoky, oak, balanced, disciplined.
Finish: Tart blackberry, juicy, tea leaves, new leather, earthy, elegant tannins, big.

Double Gold Medal

Hawley Merlot 2016 Hawley Vineyard
(Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County) $25

Made from 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Franc, following fermentation this wine was aged for over 24 months in French oak barrels before bottling.

Aroma: Black plums, strawberry, raspberry, currant, blueberry, baked blueberries, fruit circus, baked apple, tobacco, damp earth, earthy, gamey, rustic.
Palate: Cherry, black cherries, black plums, raspberry, blackberries, tart apples, spiced pears, bell pepper, vanilla, chocolate, light cinnamon, light tannins, smooth.
Finish: Blackberry, soft plum, warm pear, light citrus, leather tones, tannins, relaxed & elegant.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Ca’ Momi Heartcraft Merlot 2017
(Napa Valley) $18

Following fermentation, this 100% Merlot was aged for 8 months in a combination of French and American oak before bottling.

Aroma: Cherry, black cherry, dark plum, raspberry, black currant, dried apples, coconut, carnation, mint, touch of pine.
Palate: Sweet plum, currant, blueberry, cassis, plummy, jammy, coco, vanilla, mocha, nutty, tobacco, sage, lovely spice, leather, mineral, earthy, nicely balanced, opens on palate, smooth, rich & silky.
Finish: Plum, blueberry, dates, violets, lingering spice, burnt cocoa, tobacco, soft tannins, oaky, smooth, elegant.

Gold Medal

Reynolds Family Winery Merlot 2016
(Stags Leap District, Napa Valley) $49

This wine was made from a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon that following fermentation was aged for 18 months in French oak (45% new, 55% neutral) prior to bottling.

Aroma: Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cherries, sour cherry, stone fruits, eucalyptus, bay leaf, thyme, earthy, chalk, mineral, gamey, tannic.
Palate: Raspberry, balanced cherries, strawberry, plum, black plum skin, peaches, mushrooms, earthy, faint spice, oak, lively, bouncy.
Finish: Strawberry, cherry, Gala apple, berry pie crust, chocolatey, earthy, musty, soft tannins, smooth, lovely.

Gold Medal

Paloma Napa Valley Merlot 2015
(Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley) $60

This wine was made from a blend of Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) that following fermentation was aged in French oak (33% new) before bottling.

Aroma: Ripe black plums, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, jammy, grapefruit, violets, touch of mint, buttery, new leather, oiled leather, resin, earthy.
Palate: Plums, black cherries, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, chocolate, black tea, green tea leaves, earthy, oak, tangy, good acid, quite lively, rich, smooth.
Finish: Dark cherry, blackberry press, hints of vanilla, black tea, oregano, soil, tannic.

Gold Medal

Frey North Coast Merlot
Organic $15

This wine was made from organic grapes (87% Merlot, 8% Carignane, 5% Zinfandel), and fermented and aged in stainless steel without the addition of Sulfur Dioxide.

Aroma: Bing cherries, watermelon, Haribo peach, dried flowers, tea leaves, green olives, chocolate, musty leather, cedar, oak, bright.
Palate: Red raspberry, cherry, plum, strawberry, strawberry jam, light chocolate, black tea, tea leaves, leather, earthy, smoke, nice tight structure, enveloping, velvety.
Finish: Cherry, strawberry, watermelon rind, baked figs, burnt cherry, dark chocolate, black tea, smoky, oak, a flavor burst.

Gold Medal

Line 39 Merlot 2017
(Various California)
BEST VALUE $10

This wine was made from 90% Merlot and a blend of other red grapes. Following fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine was aged in a combination of French and American oak for 9 months before bottling.

Aroma: Rich plums, fresh blackberries, violets, black tea, herbal, dill, spicy, leather, dried earth, tannins.
Palate: Black cherry, bright raspberry, black plums, currant, coconut, vanilla, coffee bean, earthy tones, clean, smooth.
Finish: Plummy, blueberry, vanilla, chocolate, caramel, coffee, cigar box, tannins, well balanced, flavorful.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Materra – Cunat Family Vineyards
Right Bank Merlot 2015
(Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley) $50

This wine was made of a blend of primarily Merlot (96%) and smaller amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Aroma: Plum, red plum, dark cherry, blackberry, currant, dried figs, apricot, barley, mincemeat, smoke, cedar, oak, big & bold.
Palate: Black cherry, plum, red plums, raspberries, strawberry, cassis, vanilla, tobacco, soft leather notes, stony, minerals, nice tannins.
Finish: Black currant, coconut, green tea, leather, worn leather, mineral, soft tannins, smooth, elegant.

Silver Medal

Luna Vineyards Merlot 2016 Reserve
(Napa Valley) $48

This wine was fashioned from 100% Merlot that following fermentation was aged for 22 months in French oak barrels before bottling.

Aroma: Raspberry, blueberry, prunes, grape skin, green pepper, violet, subtle spice, mocha, new leather, minerals, wet slate, slightly woody, wet wood, summer rainstorm.
Palate: Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, currants, dried cherry, black tea, cocoa, light tobacco, wet stones, leather, tannic, nice tannins, burnt wood, oak, billowy, very classic European.
Finish: Dried berries, apple, anise, cigar box, earthy, smoky, soft tannin, nice.

Silver Medal

Paloma Napa Valley Merlot 2013
(Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley) $57

Made from a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine was fermented and then aged in French oak (33% new) for 18 months before bottling, and then bottle-aged for an additional 18 months prior to release.

Aroma: Blackberry, blueberry, high elevation fruit, green tea, dried herbs, rosemary, thyme, new leather, wet stone, earthy, a layer of funk, intriguing.
Palate: Plum, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, rich baked berry, apple, juicy, vanilla, spice, spicy, mineral, stone, balanced tannin, very appealing, explosive.
Finish: Cherry, blueberry, roasted coffee, spicy, wet granite, soil, tannins, super lean, vibrant.

Silver Medal