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Technical Details
- 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
- Sarah Donley
- US
- Califronia
- North Coast
- Napa Valley
- 20% new French oak
- 18 Months
- 14%
- 548
Chris Hamilton Merlot Yountville Napa Valley 2021
5% OFF RETAIL!
This Yountville Merlot showcases plush fruit and a polished Napa profile with a modern, small-production touch. The 2021 vintage is deep and generous, highlighting dark berries, cocoa, and fine tannins. It’s a smooth, balanced Merlot built for immediate appeal and versatility.
About The Producer
Chris Hamilton Cellars (also known as Chris Hamilton Winery) was launched in 2018 by entrepreneur Chris Hamilton and his wife Heidi, rooted in Chris’s epiphany while walking through an ethereal mist in a Napa cave in 2010. Seeking access to premier fruit, he partnered with Andy Hoxey of Napa Wine Co., securing contracts for organically and dry-farmed vineyards in Yountville and Oakville—sites with storied pedigrees, including the historic 1838-planted Block House Vineyard. Winemaker Jeff Ames, brought on board in 2022, oversees production of expressive whites (like a floral Sauvignon Blanc) and structured reds—including Merlot, Bordeaux-style blends, and the Wülf Cabernet Sauvignon named after Chris’s spirit animal—using minimal intervention and French oak aging. Today, though sales are still primarily via select retailers and the winery’s mailing list, the brand has earned high scores—Merlot reaching 97 points—and built a loyal following for offering Napa-quality wine at strong value ($30–$80) with bold, modern label design reflecting Chris’s racing passion and entrepreneurial spirit.