Not only is this Merlot from what is arguably America's greatest mountain vineyard; it's from one of the handful of oldest and best plots in this extensive property. (Indeed, it's the plot adjacent to the one from which the vineyard's owners source their very top, $200 luxury Cabernet.)
So yes, it's a truly epic Merlot. But it's also one you'd have to be a pretty serious taster to identify as Merlot blind. This is powerful, structured, concentrated and serious mountain wine – from an epic vintage and extraordinary site.
By the way, this winery's basic Napa Merlot (not the single-vineyard Stagecoach) sells for $45. And it’s really good, too…just not at the level of this.
