Hourglass Blueline Vineyard Merlot 2019
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Winemaker Notes
Rich and intense throughout, the 2019 Blueline Estate Merlot opens with mandarin orange oil, dark sour cherry and black plum aromatics. Its hallmark savory notes of Asian five spice, bay leaf and cola nut add depth and layered complexity. On the palate, concentrated red fruits and black cassis mingle with hoisin and roasted hazelnut. Texturally supple and gracious, the telltale Blueline crushed stone minerality provides balance with firm structure and lift on the long, plush finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Merlot Blueline Estate is a blend of 82% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it storms out of the glass with exuberant scents of baked blackberries, crushed blueberries and plum preserves, plus hints of mocha, lavender and star anise with a waft of truffles. Full-bodied, rich and seductive on the palate, it has a plush texture and seamless acidity, finishing on a lingering licorice note. Barrel Sample: (93 - 95)
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Blueline Merlot checks in as 82% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 months in French oak, it's a ripe, sexy, beautifully textured Merlot revealing plenty of red and blue fruits as well as notes of tobacco and sappy flowers. It's ripe but also balanced, and it’s already drinking brilliantly.
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James Suckling
Lots of blue fruits with terra-cotta aromas. Some flowers, too. Medium- to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Juicy and beautiful. Opulent but not overpowering. 82% merlot, 11% cabernet sauvignon, 5% malbec, and 2% cabernet franc.
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Wine
Hourglass wines represent a cutting-edge, modern Napa Valley winemaking style. Ned Smith bought the property in 1976 and his goal quickly shifted from fruit trees to his favorite wine, Zinfandel, with the lofty hope of supplying grapes to local wineries in exchange for finished wine. The land was eventually taken over by son Jeff Smith. In 1992, Jeff enlisted his family friend - and former rock band cohort - Bob Foley as winemaker for their new venture. Like so many aspiring guitarists, Bob had kept his day job over the years, making wine and garnering countless accolades and rock-star status for such labels as Robert Foley Vineyards, Switchback Ridge, Pride Mountain, School House and Paloma. Bob continues to make all the Hourglass wines and has the deep purple-stained hands to prove it. The calluses, however, are as much from guitar playing as his meticulous cellar work. Then, Hourglass's inaugural release came with the 1997 vintage, a seminal Napa vintage by many critics' standards.
With the christening of the winery at Blueline and its distinct single-varietal wines, Hourglass has entered an exciting new phase of its evolution. A brand synonymous with terroir-driven, modern Napa wines of the highest caliber, its goal is and will always remain the same: To capture the essence of two of Napa Valley's most expressive vineyard sites in bottled form, and to have the honor of sharing them with you and your families for decades to come.
As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.
Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.