Duckhorn’s most famous offering is their Merlot Three Palms Vineyard. The 2004 possesses abundant black cherry liqueur, black currant, toasty oak, and earthy/composty aromas along with an attractive note of smoky oak. This deep ruby/purple-tinged effort reveals good fruit, but not as much depth or richness as are found in the estate’s top Cabernets. Nevertheless, this is an elegant, complex Merlot to drink over the next decade. Tel. (707) 963-7108; Fax (707) 945-1009

This is Duckhorn’s signature vineyard for Merlot, located off the Silverado Trail below Calistoga. It’s also the winery’s most variable Merlot, showing distinct vintage variation. The 2004 was a warm vintage, and the wine is soft and voluptuous in pie-filling cherry, raspberry and blackberry flavors. But it doesn’t have the tough tannins that cooler vintages show.——S.H.(12/31/2007)—— 88