Lot 14 2003 Napa Valley Merlot
- Vintage: 2003
- Appellation: 66% Rutherford, 24% Pope Valley
- Grape: 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
- Alcohol by volume: 13.7%
- Production: 3,700 cases
- Online availability: Sold out
Find out what the critics think.
Taste: Richly fruited nose of cherries, raspberries, chocolate and smoke. Intense jammy mid-palate is perfectly balanced with a juicy raspberry intensity and just a hint of tannin to firm up the wine. Deeply structured and rich with a long harmonious finish. Drink now and decant an hour or two or hold 5-10 years. A couple more months in the bottle (its now mid-July) and it will fully expand to the dynamite barrel sample we all loved. We liked it so much that we were determined to bottle this wine despite its recent downfall from consumers? good graces.
Cameron Confidential: Another inspired blend by our winemaker combining Merlots from the rich Napa Valley floor in Rutherford with the more structured, high-toned, and dark character from Pope Valley. There are similar blends selling between $20-30/bottle from two big Napa producers. We were able to negotiate a great deal on this wine due to reduced demand as consumers turn to more "in vogue" varietals. Merlots are fickle in the bottle and take a little more time to come around. Once this wine gets a bit more age it'll be one of the tastiest Merlots around. Your patience will be well rewarded.
