Markham 2022 Merlot, Napa Valley

The Markham 2022 Napa Valley Merlot opens with a kind of quiet generosity. The nose offers ripe plum and cherry preserves, joined by mocha, coffee bean, and a sweet hint of toffee. A touch of cedar rises behind, adding warmth and composure to the bouquet. It’s an introduction that feels welcoming but layered, promising more than just plush fruit.

The palate delivers on that promise. Black cherry and dark plum saturate the mid-palate, but the richness is lifted by polished acidity and a supple tannin structure that keeps the wine from feeling heavy. Mocha and cocoa dust drift into the finish, carrying just enough spice to complement the fruit without overshadowing it. There’s a seamlessness to the texture—silky and approachable—yet with enough depth to reward another few years of patience.

Markham’s Merlot is not just another varietal bottling—it’s the heart of their story. Since 1980, when Napa was still defining itself post-Judgment of Paris, Markham was among the first to stake a reputation on Merlot, helping to establish it as one of the valley’s benchmarks. Decades later, it remains their flagship, representing both history and identity in a region often dominated by Cabernet.

Behind the wine is scale balanced with craft. Markham farms more than 260 acres across Yountville, Oak Knoll, and Calistoga—an estate patchwork that gives them a wide palette to blend from. The 2022 Merlot reflects this estate focus: hand-harvested fruit fermented in stainless steel, aged in a thoughtful balance of French and American oak, shaped to highlight fruit and spice rather than heavy oak influence. Sustainability underscores the process as well, with all estate vineyards certified Napa Green.

The 2022 vintage adds its own stamp. Marked by a warm growing season, the fruit achieved ripeness with ease, but careful vineyard management preserved acidity and balance. The result is a Merlot with plush concentration but also brightness—a wine that captures Napa’s warmth without losing its definition.

Kimberlee Nicholls, Markham’s winemaker since 1993, deserves credit here. Her steady hand has guided the style for decades, ensuring consistency while allowing each vintage to speak clearly. The 2022 is no exception: it feels modern in its polish, yet classic in its poise.

This is a Merlot that doesn’t need to compete with Cabernet—it thrives on its own terms. It’s a wine of comfort and depth, meant to accompany food and conversation as much as it is to be contemplated on its own. Pour it with roast duck, braised short ribs, or even a simple mushroom risotto, and it will hold its ground with quiet confidence.

Markham 2022 Merlot is more than a bottle—it’s a continuation of Napa’s Merlot legacy. Plush and polished, welcoming yet structured, it reminds us why this grape once defined the valley, and why it still deserves a place at the table.