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Beringer, Napa Valley Merlot Bancroft Ranch Howell Mountain, 2001

Red Wine from California, United States
by Beringer
$119.99
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Mountain Merlot from one of Napa's classic vintages, now twenty-five years old and in a generous place. Bancroft Ranch sits at 1,800 feet on Howell Mountain's western slopes, above the fog line in well-drained volcanic soil that yields tiny berries with a high skin-to-fruit ratio; Beringer first vinified fruit here in 1986 and has bottled it as a vineyard-designated Merlot since the 1987 vintage. Small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are typical here, used to lengthen the finish and add complexity to the blend. 2001 has settled in as a Napa benchmark for Cabernet and Bordeaux varieties, a structured year sandwiched between three cool vintages and three marked by late-season heat spikes, and the better wines remain in fine form. If well stored, this should be mature and open now with life still ahead of it. Decant off the sediment before serving.

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Antonio Galloni

91 points

"Good medium red-ruby. Nose dominated by cassis and black cherry. Dense but not fat; in fact, this rich, full merlot seems to be going into a shell today. Complicating notes of tar, licorice and minerals. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and a strong chocolatey flavor." —Stephen Tanzer

Robert Parker

90 points

"The biggest, most backward effort among the Merlot-based cuvees is the impressively endowed 2001 Merlot Bancroft Ranch. It boasts a dark ruby/purple color in addition to a fragrant bouquet of earth, chocolate, black cherries, blackberries, and coffee. Give it another 1-3 years of bottle age and consume it over the following 10-15 years." —Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Wine Spectator

90 points

"Harmonious and complex, with ripe plum, cherry and currant flavors accented by smoky, mocha-scented oak, striking a fine balance. Shows ripe, integrated, firm tannins on the finish, where the flavors fold together nicely."

More about Beringer

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Merlot

  • Vintage

    2001

  • Size

    750ml

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

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Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Grilled ribeye, lamb shoulder with rosemary, oxtail ragu over pappardelle, roast squab, or a well-aged cheddar.

Tasting Profile

Blackberry, plum and cassis edging toward dried fruit, with tobacco leaf, cedar, leather and cocoa. Full-bodied, with fine, softened tannins and a long, savory finish.