2020 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Rector Creek Vineyard
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Rector Creek Vineyard is located north of the town of Yountville along the Silverado Trail. A unique climate featuring a cooling afternoon breeze combined with Rector Creek’s rocky alluvial soils creates excellent growing conditions for the vines. As a result, Rector Creek produces an elegant expression of Merlot with attractive blueberry and allspice aromatics, velvety structure and refined character highlighting classic notes of spicy plum.
Wine Spectator
91
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Composition: 100% estate fruit - 99% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker Notes
Once again, Rector Creek has produced a lush and impeccably polished expression of Merlot with alluring aromas of black cherry, red plum, raspberry, dark chocolate and strawberry. On the palate the bright red berry flavors flow across supple, velvety tannins to a long, elegant finish.
Production
In terms of overall weather, most of the 2020 growing season was excellent. Following a relatively dry winter, budbreak started early, and the temperatures throughout spring and summer were mild and temperate. This allowed the grapes to ripen slowly, developing pure, vibrant flavors and supple, fleshy textures. In late September, harvest was impacted by the outbreak of wildfires and the arrival of hot weather. The elevated temperatures gave many vineyards a final push to ripeness as we worked to bring in the grapes. During this period, we did extensive testing to ensure quality, excluding any fruit that did not meet our standards. While our meticulous selection process resulted in a smaller 2020 crop, the wines we produced live up to the Duckhorn name, displaying beautiful aromas, soft elegant textures, lively complexity and lush flavors.
Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Vintage
2020
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Napa Valley
Vineyard Designation
Rector Creek Vineyard
Acid
0.60 g/100 ml
pH
3.64
Aging
Aged 18 months in 100% French oak 75% new, 25% neutral
Alcohol %
14.50
Wine Spectator
91