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Emmolo Winery Napa Valley Merlot 2014
New! 93 Points New Merlot from the folks at Caymus! Jenny Wagner, daughter of Caymus' Chuck Wagner, has introduced this outstanding Merlot from her new label Emmolo. One of the best Napa Valley Merlots we've discovered this year. Grapes for this vintage were sourced from the Emmolo Oak Knoll vineyard located near the city of Napa in a sub-appellation called Oak Knoll. It’s ten miles nearer the San Francisco Bay than Rutherford and has a cooler microclimate. The site was strategically chosen for its soils and moderate climate, which are appropriate for growing Merlot. 93 Points James Suckling: "Opulent, juicy red with loads of fruit and spices. If you love full-throttle reds, you'll love this. But it's balanced. Chocolate, walnut, savory. Serious merlot. 15.3% alcohol but not a problem. One of the few exciting merlots from here." Jenny Wagner, Winemaker: "My goal for this wine was to create a well-balanced Merlot with superbly rich fruit,soft tannins and dark color. This first release exhibits aromas of mahogany smoke,leather and brown spice, while earthy flavors intertwine with caramelized plum and smooth tannins reminiscent of ground cocoa."
Ratings on Delectable
Ron R 
1ltr format. Loved everything about it. No sign of premature aging. Wish we had more. Would be difficult to pick this as a merlot, if tasted blind...
1ltr format. Loved everything about it. No sign of premature aging. Wish we had more. Would be difficult to pick this as a merlot, if tasted blind...
9.2Ron R
This is very impressive. Rich and sexy with bold tannins. It’s a merlot which presents as a cab. I’m gonna stock up on this. Winemaker is Wagner’s daughter. The estrogen is crushing the testosterone in the family!
This is very impressive. Rich and sexy with bold tannins. It’s a merlot which presents as a cab. I’m gonna stock up on this. Winemaker is Wagner’s daughter. The estrogen is crushing the testosterone in the family!
9.3
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Deep purplish red and completely coats the glass. Solid nose on the attack with blueberries, cinnamon, raspberries, anise and a little floral. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and well integrated. A bit of heat too. Insanely extracted with notes of spices, blueberries, dark raspberries, minerality and a touch of earthiness. Very drinkable and a good bit of fruit. Medium bodied with some good structure. Medium length finish. Drink till 2022.
Deep purplish red and completely coats the glass. Solid nose on the attack with blueberries, cinnamon, raspberries, anise and a little floral. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and well integrated. A bit of heat too. Insanely extracted with notes of spices, blueberries, dark raspberries, minerality and a touch of earthiness. Very drinkable and a good bit of fruit. Medium bodied with some good structure. Medium length finish. Drink till 2022.
8.9Bill Ward
A juicy delight. My favorite wine from a Wagner in a while. Persistent. Paid $20 for it,; misidentified here as a spendy merlot
A juicy delight. My favorite wine from a Wagner in a while. Persistent. Paid $20 for it,; misidentified here as a spendy merlot
9.3
Kevin Ortzman
Raspberry and chocolate, a very nice merlot.
Raspberry and chocolate, a very nice merlot.
8.9
Matt Trader
I've gotta hand it to Chuck's daughter on this vintage and say that she is becoming a great wine maker! It's funny, I preferred the Merlot over the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon. As a matter of fact, they both tasted quite similar to one another, but the Merlot had a one up on papa's wine; that one up was TANNIN STRUCTURE. It had that similar raisin like nose, but showed some herb spice notes and nutmeg, with a core of sugar coated strawberry and ripe cherries. In the glass, the liquid was dark ruby with an intense purple hue, and long legs. The pallet exhibited notes of stewed black and red fruits, vanilla, clove, dark chocolate, and finished with finesse and lingered with an ever so charismatic bite. In conclusion, I feel as if the Emmolo Merlot for the $50 is much more adequately priced than some of the Caymus family wines, and had a fantastic tannic structure, with acidity to accompany it. It wasn't AS sweet of a red as the Cab, so I will call it WOTN. Brava Jenny Wagner! CHEERS!
I've gotta hand it to Chuck's daughter on this vintage and say that she is becoming a great wine maker! It's funny, I preferred the Merlot over the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon. As a matter of fact, they both tasted quite similar to one another, but the Merlot had a one up on papa's wine; that one up was TANNIN STRUCTURE. It had that similar raisin like nose, but showed some herb spice notes and nutmeg, with a core of sugar coated strawberry and ripe cherries. In the glass, the liquid was dark ruby with an intense purple hue, and long legs. The pallet exhibited notes of stewed black and red fruits, vanilla, clove, dark chocolate, and finished with finesse and lingered with an ever so charismatic bite. In conclusion, I feel as if the Emmolo Merlot for the $50 is much more adequately priced than some of the Caymus family wines, and had a fantastic tannic structure, with acidity to accompany it. It wasn't AS sweet of a red as the Cab, so I will call it WOTN. Brava Jenny Wagner! CHEERS!
9.1Robert Stackowiak
Deep color. Balanced fruity / dry. At 4 years old is lovely. September 2018.
Deep color. Balanced fruity / dry. At 4 years old is lovely. September 2018.
9.0
Rick Riddle
Cassis and licorice on the nose with dark chocolate on the palate with a cherry jubilee finish. Reminds me of nighttime, darkness, gothic. Maybe because of the deep purple, dark chocolate with greater than expected velvety tannins. Not your typical Merlot, but what you would expect from the Wagner family- Very Jammy, but also very rich
Cassis and licorice on the nose with dark chocolate on the palate with a cherry jubilee finish. Reminds me of nighttime, darkness, gothic. Maybe because of the deep purple, dark chocolate with greater than expected velvety tannins. Not your typical Merlot, but what you would expect from the Wagner family- Very Jammy, but also very rich
9.1
Paul Krzych
BIG! It's hi,-test. Blackberry aroma. Leather and cherry predominate. Crazy good Merlot!
BIG! It's hi,-test. Blackberry aroma. Leather and cherry predominate. Crazy good Merlot!
9.8
Scot Walker
Carmel and cotton candy nose, red berries, red licorice taste, need 20-30 minutes to breathe. Went well with Vitello Milano and grilled broccolini with balsamic vinegar.
Carmel and cotton candy nose, red berries, red licorice taste, need 20-30 minutes to breathe. Went well with Vitello Milano and grilled broccolini with balsamic vinegar.
9.0
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