Touche William Knuttel Merlot Napa Valley 2023

William “Bill” Knuttel made a name for himself at famous estates Saintsbury and Chalk Hill, two of California’s top wineries, before branching out on his own. We’ve worked closely with Bill for years and are proud to offer his new Touché Napa Valley Merlot. The name is a nod to the precision and craftsmanship (akin to an expert fencer) that Bill brings to every wine.

This is Napa Valley Merlot at its finest. Barrel-aged, elegant, structured—nothing like the Merlot that a certain someone (in a certain movie) once complained about. Bill has excellent relationships with some of the best vinegrowers and personally selects the parcels for his wines. These grapes come from Truchard Vineyards, and are grown on the southern valley hillside's loamy soil, which is mixed with silt, sand, clay and gravel—all great for drainage and keeping the vines healthy under the hot California sun.

For this stunning Merlot, the grapes were harvested in late October and mid-November, allowing them to reach full ripeness. All those complex flavors were carefully extracted with punch downs over a two-week period, before pressing the juice and transferring it to oak barrels.

The wine saw 14 months of aging in French oak barrels (both new ones and those that were a few years old). This approach leads to better balance in the final wine, ensuring that the fruit flavors are not overwhelmed by the oak’s influence.

Touché Merlot is full-bodied with aromas of boysenberry, black cherry, spiced plum, cedar, vanilla and chocolate. On the palate, enjoy lush cherry, raspberry and black plum flavors with a velvety feel and supple tannins. The finish is smooth and elegant, with balanced structure.

And here’s a few food pairings from Bill himself: wild mushroom risotto, barbecue pork ribs with a plum glaze, roasted duck with cherry sauce or stuffed bell peppers.