2022 Mt. Brave ‘Mount Veeder’ Merlot

WSI96 JS97 One of the most structured, focused and intense merlots in Napa Valley. So laced with super-fine-grained tannins, it’s pointed, precise, linear and concentrated. A powerful wine that will age gracefully. Deep in black cherries, red cherries, cocoa, iron and graphite notes. Contains 15% cabernet sauvignon. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.
DEC96 This Merlot showcases the power of mountain tannins, balanced by the generosity of the vintage and winemaker Chris Carpenter’s meticulous attention to rootstock, clone, and site—each influencing the tannin profile in the grape skins from every corner of the vineyards he farms. Blended with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 22 months in 74% new French oak, the wine offers rich, expressive notes of mulberry and thyme, dark chocolate dusted with black sea salt, and nuances of underbrush and deep forest redwood that unfurl on the ever-lingering finish. A powerful, structured Merlot that remains remarkably approachable—and more than capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
JD94 The 2022 Merlot from Mt. Brave is a gorgeous Mount Veeder release that’s 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 22 months in 74% new French oak. Juicy red and black berries, leafy herbs, resinous notes, leather, baking spice, and hints of chocolate all emerge from the glass. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it offers a round, lush mouthfeel with ample mid-palate depth, impressive purity, and finesse. This beautifully made Merlot will drink well for 15+ years.