2019 Napa Valley Merlot

The 2019 Merlot from Impensata is an attractive wine. Bright acids perk up a core of sweet red berry and blood orange fruit, with savory overtones and supporting grippy tannins that add quite a bit of complexity. There is a lot of personality and character here. Even so, I thought the blend last year, when this was 100% from Ecotone, was more complete and more convincing. The addition of Cabernet Sauvignon from Las Posadas seems to have really shut the wine down. I will be very curious to see how this ages, but, again, I liked it more last year.

The 2019 Merlot is composed of 93% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts with ripe black plums, blackberry preserves and chocolate-covered cherries notes, plus wafts of star anise and sandalwood. Medium to full-bodied, lively and plush in the mouth, it has bags of juicy fruit and a long finish. 260 cases were made.

The 2019 Merlot Ecotone Vineyard is a step up from the 2018. There is more depth, density and fewer of the somewhat angular contours found in the 2018, all of which suggest a slightly higher quality vintage and also quite a bit of learning in the field that is typical of a new project just getting off the ground. This is a fabulous expression of Ecotone (formerly known as Thorevilos), one of the great sites in St. Helena. Merlot in Napa Valley is rarely this compelling.