I have been a big fan of
Dan and Margaret Duckhorn and will always remember an afternoon in 1981
when they took time away of their busy schedule to barrel taste with
me. The "crush facility" looked more like a
booth at the farmer's market. They placed an emphasis on hand sorting
their fruit. Two small gleaming stainless steel fermenters stood
openly exposed on newly poured cement pads. By this time production
had reached about 2000 cases. Duckhorn's first vintage was 1978.
Yes, Duckhorn's premiere release in 1980 included a Cabernet
Sauvignon. But it was the first vintage of Duckhorn's 1978 Three Palms
Merlot that changed everyone's outlook about the potential of
California Merlot. Up until that time, and only in a few vintages, the
Merlot grape had only been commercially produced and labeled by Louis
Martini, Sterling and Burgess. The wines, at best, were from vineyard
experiments. Most of the wines were produced from under ripe and over
cropped grapes. The result was a diluted "quaffable" swill afflicted
with overt herbaciousness. Not only did Duckhorn pioneer the concept
of vineyard designation, but built its Merlot with a significant
"dollop" of high octane Cabernet Sauvignon and styled it by aging in a
high percentage of new French oak barrels. Duckhorn also adhered to
the French practice of gently racking or decanting from barrel to
barrel to remove lees and sediment and egg white fining before
bottling. I remember how difficult it was to find another bottle of
the 1978 Three Palm Merlot. I believe, I originally paid $12 for the
only bottle I could hunt down. I remember a few years later when
my mother stood in line an hour before the doors opened at a "library
sale" at the old Trumpetvine wine shop in Berkeley to snag another
bottle for me...This time it cost me $25! Thanks again Mom!
The Duckhorn success story has
been a paradigm for many aspiring wineries. 2002 crush
marked Duckhorn's 25th harvest. Duckhorn Merlot has been a fashion
trend setter and over the years has dispelled the notion Merlot does
not have cellaring potential! Duckhorn has always produced a Napa
Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (except 1979), but its great
status for superb Merlot has always directed the focus away from this
production. However, more recent rave reviews have now earned
Duckhorn's Cabernet Sauvignon a strong reputation and it is
now considered amongst the very best produced in Napa
Valley. Additionally, the proprietary blend Paraduxx (Artist Series -
Duck Stamp), an uncommon blend of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon,
exemplifies Duckhorn's creative abilities and furthers the winery's
reputation for excellence.
The following Spring releases
are extremely(133-6059)limited and certainly live up
to the Duckhorn's standard of highest quality! They are priced at the
winery's retail. Asterisk**
wines will discount up to 10%, if a combined purchase of at least 12
bottles is made.
2000
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $54.95**
75% CS, 13% CF, 12% ME - 19 mos - 100%
French oak 60 gallon barrique (78% new oak, 22% second year)
Last vintage received 94
points from the Wine Spectator!
2000 Three
Palms Vineyard Merlot - $74.95 NET
81% ME, 9% PV, 5% CS, 5% CF - 20 mos -
100% French oak 60 gallon barrique (100% new oak)
2000
Estate Grown Merlot - $79.95 NET
100% Merlot - 19 mos - 100% French oak
60 gallon barrique (100% new oak)
1999
Howell Mountain Merlot - $64.95 NET
93% ME, 7% CS - 100% French oak 60
gallon barrique (100% new oak)
2000
Paraduxx - $42.95**
66% Zinfandel, 34% CS - 18 mos - 66%
American oak (Zin), 34% French oak (Cab) - 70% new and 30% second year
Uncommon blend modeled after Italian
SuperTuscans - Substituting Napa Valley's Zinfandel for Tuscany
Sangiovese.
Last vintage received 96
points from Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine (3 "Puffs").
Bonus! If you missed out, I have
a little more of my allocation remaining from last Fall's release!
2000
Merlot - Napa Valley - $45.95**
84% ME, 16% CS - 16 mos - 100% French
oak 60 gallon barrique (40% new oak, 60% second year)
2001
Sauvignon Blanc - Napa Valley - $21.95**
76% SB, 34% SE - 100% French Oak 60
gallon barrique - 38% barrel fermented, 4 months sur lie
PLEASE
ORDER NOW BY EMAIL OR TELEPHONE! ALL ORDERS WILL BE CONFIRMED
BY REPLY EMAIL WITH YOUR INVOICE #.
TWC Gift Certificate worth $50 to
member identifying his or her # in text and then responding by reply
email within 48 hours of this email's time stamp.
Passionately yours about wine,
Eric Stumpf
Proprietor, The Wine Consultant
8039 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 721-WINE (9463)
View the Archives
