2001 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley

Community Tasting Notes (37) Avg Score: 89.5 points

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  7/12/2020 - DBenke wrote: 93 Points

  In the Perfect drinking window. Resolved tannin. Beautiful fruit, hint of menthol. Delicious.

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  12/21/2019 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Found in my cellar and somehow not previously in my inventory but it must have been there since the early 2000’s...had to check it out...WOW was it interesting. One bottle left that I will keep for a perfect food pairing in the near future, probably a mushroom and duck dish or mushroom risotto. Medium dark saturated garnet color. Absolutely captivating nose of porcini mushrooms (so much so that we pulled out some dried porcini from the cupboard to smell, exactamundo!), blackberries, chocolate and some vanilla. Silky smooth mouth feel with more of the mushrooms on the palate with milk chocolate, black cherry and boysenberry but with good acidity and not at all jammy. So rich, balanced and complex with layers of flavor and a nice long finish. Perfect with grilled steaks and sautéed mushrooms. Big surprise for the entry level Merlot from Duckhorn at 18 years old! Probably not getting better but showing no sign of over-aging. Probably paid around $25 for this 15+ years ago.

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  7/20/2019 - srh Likes this wine:

  Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whites, 8 Reds, & 10 *shared* bottles] from 07/19/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Oscar, THANK you for sharing this *surprisingly* WELL-preserved wine! :)
  
  Supposedly 82% Merlot & 18% C.S., aged 16 mos in FR oak barrels (40% new, 60% 2nd use); 22,612 cases made.
  
  N: RIPE, jammy, with a creaminess to the lingonberry frt; Intensity lurking
  
  P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with an intriguing bitter/swtness (55:45) that SHOULD be VERY food friendly -- even in yr 18. For now & through '23, I'm guessing, + still POSSIBLY improving?™ My EXC; 89 pts ea WS & Vinous (Tanzer), and 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [As of late Jul '19, wine-searcher still shows sources from $55-$70].
  
  ™Yes, I *am* aware that many were advising consuming this during the 1st decade of its existence.

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  3/25/2014 - salil wrote: 86 Points

  Lots of ripe red and dark fruit up front, with a faintly lactic/creamy characteristic on the nose framing the fruit. It comes across a bit monolithic initially, but with air shows more complexity and textural finesse, though I found this the least exciting of the flight.

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  10/8/2013 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Deep, dark ruby in color. Fragrant and attractive nose of well developed ripe red fruit aromas of cherries & plums, herbs, tobacco & cedar, some leather notes, dusty, spices and some cocoa/mocha in the background. Medium-full to medium bodied of well developed & smooth, ripe fruit flavors of sweet cherries, berries & tart plums, earthy, some cocoa & coffee, herbs and minerals. Lingering smooth finish. Very elegant & polished. Appears to be at its peak of development, so drink up!

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