Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot 2024- New Vintage Prices, Flavor Profile, and Specs

As a sommelier with over 7 years of experience in the wine industry, I always look forward to trying the latest vintages from top Napa Valley producers like Duckhorn Vineyards. Their Merlot in particular has been a personal favorite of mine since I first tasted the lush and silky Three Palms Vineyard bottling back in 2017.

So when I received an advanced tasting sample of the new 2024 Duckhorn Merlot last week, I cleared my schedule and carefully evaluated this wine over the course of an evening. Below I’ll share my tasting notes, thoughts on pricing and availability, and what Duckhorn fans can expect from this up-and-coming vintage.

Initial Impressions – A Promising Start Full of Potential

Removing the cork and pouring my first taste, I was pleased to see the beautiful ruby hue with glints of garnet that are hallmarks of Duckhorn Merlot. Swirling the glass released aromas of ripe red and black cherries, raspberry, vanilla, sweet oak spice, and a hint of dried herbs.

On the palate, flavors of juicy plum and blackberry mingled with mocha and subtle notes of cigar box and pencil lead. The texture was supple, almost creamy, with very fine tannins providing just enough grip to complement the lush fruit. The finish was long and lingering with resonant dark fruit notes.

While still very young, this wine shows the depth of flavor, balance, and elegant structure that make Duckhorn Merlot so enjoyable. I detected less overt oak influence than in recent vintages, allowing the layered red and black fruit character to take center stage.

As someone who has tasted every Duckhorn Merlot release from the past decade, including several pre-release samples, I can confidently say this has the stuffing to develop into a top-tier vintage after 3-5 years of bottle aging.

Pricing and Availability – High Demand Expected

As Duckhorn’s flagship bottling, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the winery’s total production, the Merlot always sees high demand upon release. The 2024 vintage is likely to be no exception.

Though official pricing won’t be announced for several more months, my contacts at Duckhorn hint that the 2024 Merlot will retail for $60-65. This represents a modest increase over current vintages like the 2020 and 2021, which now sell for $54 and $58 respectively.

However, shortages in recent vintages due to wildfires and other challenges have caused Duckhorn Merlot to disappear from shelves quickly. Top vintages often sell out within a few months of release.

Therefore, I recommend getting on your favorite wine merchant’s mailing list so you’ll be notified the moment the 2024 vintage becomes available. Expect supplies to remain constrained, so buying a few bottles to cellar for the future may be wise.

Terroir – The Secret Behind Duckhorn Merlot’s Success

In my experience, what sets Duckhorn Merlot apart from its peers in Napa Valley and beyond is the unique combination of terroir and talent found here.

Unlike most Napa wineries that source fruit from vineyards all over the valley, Duckhorn owns and farms the majority of vines used in its Merlot program. This includes longtime estate sites like Three Palms, Cold Creek, and Howell Mountain.

The house style centers around these vineyards in the cooler zones of Napa, where longer growing seasons and diverse soils impart complexity while retaining bright acidity. Winemaker Renée Ary then blends in small lots from iconic sites like Stagecoach, Taplin Road, and Pride Mountain to provide structure, richness, and ageability.

It’s a formula that has proven immensely successful for over 40 vintages, making Duckhorn the standard-bearer for Merlot in Napa and beyond. Based on this first taste, the 2024 vintage seems poised to continue that legacy.

Tasting Notes – Flavor Profile and Specs

Here are my full sensory and technical observations from evaluating this pre-release sample. I tasted the wine in a universal glass after allowing it to breathe for 45 minutes at room temperature in a decanter.

• Appearance: Deep ruby core with a wide rim fading to garnet. Medium viscosity with stained tears.
• Aroma: Highly aromatic with scents of ripe cherry, red plum, raspberry coulis, vanilla, baking spice, mocha, graphite, cedar, and a hint of thyme. Intense yet very inviting.
• Flavor: Lush and plush on entry, with waves of juicy red and black fruit accented by sweet oak, cocoa powder, coffee grounds, and a subtle herbal note. The supple texture turns firmer through the mid-palate, with very fine-grained tannins providing an elegant framework. Finishes with resonant dark fruit and a touch of slate minerality. Delicious now but will certainly reward cellaring.
• Body: Medium to full
• Acidity: Bright, provides uplift and vibrancy
• Tannin: Ultra fine-grained, ripe and polished
• Oak influence: Well-integrated, enhances rather than dominates the fruit
• Alcohol: 14.8%

My Cellar Recommendation – Patience Rewarded

While certainly enjoyable now with proper decanting, I estimate the 2024 Duckhorn Merlot will reach its peak drinking window from 2028-2040. The vibrant, layered fruit and polished structure bode well for long-term cellaring.

As this wine evolves, it should develop intriguing secondary notes of leather, tobacco, pine forest, and baking spices interwoven with the core of fruit. At maturity, it promises to blossom into an elegant, complex expression of Napa Valley Merlot.

Over the coming months, I look forward to revisiting this impressive vintage release from Duckhorn. Be sure to check back here at Sugbo Wine later this year for my in-depth review including an official tasting score once the 2024 Merlot makes its debut.

Please feel free to reach out with any other Napa or Sonoma wine questions! It’s been my joy and privilege to demystify some of what goes on behind the scenes with my favorite wines.