Expect dark cherry, plum, blackcurrant, cedar, dried herb, and refined oak with full body and structured tannins. Howell Mountain Merlot typically shows more concentration and mountain-herb savor than valley-floor examples. The 2012 Napa vintage was excellent.
- Varietal
- Merlot
- Region
- USA / California / Napa Valley / Howell Mountain
- Body
- Full
- Style
- dry red, mountain fruit, structured, oak-aged
The producer
Burgess Cellars is a Howell Mountain estate originally founded in 1972. The property was acquired by Lawrence Wine Estates in 2020. The Estate Vineyard Merlot sources from the estate's Howell Mountain holdings.
What critics say
Burgess Merlot receives consistently solid reviews; the estate has historically been respected for its mountain-fruited Bordeaux varieties.
Pairing
Herb-crusted rack of lamb, grilled lamb chops, beef short rib