($95): Duckhorn Vineyards, which was the first to show us the potential of Merlot from Napa with their Three Palms bottling of it, now shows us the diversity of sites in Napa Valley with a series of single vineyard bottlings. Patzimaro Vineyard, located at the base of Spring Mountain in the St. Helena appellation, produces a Cabernet that marries the elegance of their Rutherford bottling and the power of the Three Palms (Cabernet) bottling without a trace of heat in the finish.  This superb wine conveys both power and elegance and finishes with an attractive hint of bitterness.  No jammy flavors here.  It’s remarkably approachable and enjoyable now, but I bet it will develop enormous complexity with bottle age because of its incredible balance now, in its youth.
95 Michael Apstein Oct 4, 2016