Winetasting at Duckhorn Vineyards Estate Winery
We’re too used to the more laid back Sonoma County wineries, and didn’t have any, but luckily they were able to squeeze us in. The tasting room was definitely very busy. Unlike most tasting rooms where you simply stand at the bar, Duckhorn Vineyards provides tables. The walls are lined with windows, flooding the room with natural light and beautiful views of the surrounding grapes. We were served nuts and crackers to complement the wine, which was brought to us at our table.
The bar in the Duckhorn Vineyards Estate Winery tasting room is ringed with tables and flooded with natural light from its many windows. The views out over the winery are beautiful. Unfortunately they don't make up for the quality of the wine.
2008 Sauvignon Blanc – Sweet, fruity with a clean finish.
2006 Napa Valley Merlot – Has a strong aftertaste and struck us as more of a cooking wine. Not for us.
2007 Decoy Red – A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (43%), Merlot (43%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot ($4%). Despite its $52 price tag we found it rather tasteless. It was way too light for us and lacked the juicy fruity taste we were hoping for.
2006 Estate Napa Valley Merlot – smoother than their regular Napa Valley Merlot, but for $85 we remained unimpressed.
2006 Cabernet – Strong aftertaste, despite the 20% merlot we were told was added to soften it.
Overall, we were far more impressed with Duckhorn Vineyards’ tasting room than their wine. We think you can do (much) better elsewhere.
