From its very beginning, Duckhorn Vineyards has had the reputation of being an outstanding, premium Merlot producer. And after 30 years, that reputation still holds. “It reflects that we haven’t dropped our standards and that we don’t intend to,” says New Zealand-born winemaker Bill Nancarrow. “We work hard to be the best we can; and when we get an award or reviews, it’s very rewarding and humbling.”
Duckhorn Vineyards was co-founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976. Today, it produces three main Merlots (as well as Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a premium red wine blend) and about 40,000 cases annually. The largest production is the Napa Valley Merlot. “Being a snapshot from all over the valley, its diverse flavor profile has elements of spice with only a hint of oak; it’s soft and approachable right away,” says Nancarrow. “The Three Palms Vineyard Merlot has red berry characteristics and a big, structured and focused flavor profile. The Estate Grown Merlot [which he hinted may be his favorite] is aged in 100 percent new French barrels and is heavier, toasty.” I couldn’t have said it better myself, so I won’t.
Nancarrow joined Duckhorn in 2001 as assistant winemaker. He’d been working in New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay as winemaker at C.J. Pask Winery (a top Merlot producer there) but wanted to expand his knowledge to include the Northern hemisphere. “I was interested in Napa wines; I was intrigued by the place. So I asked a couple people where I should go in California—and they said Duckhorn.” He permanently joined the company in 2003, and was named executive winemaker of Duckhorn’s Napa Valley properties in January 2007.
So what’s next? Nancarrow notes that the 2006 vintage is, in his words, stunning. “One of the best Merlot vintages I’ve ever seen,” he says. “It’s just now being blended and bottled.” I, personally, can hardly wait.
In the meantime, if you’d like to taste some of Duckhorn’s outstanding wine, its tasting room is open daily (reservations are recommended). Each Sunday morning, the Estate Tasting focuses exclusively on the winery’s Merlots and how they’re crafted.
