Decoy Merlot from Duckhorn: 8 Best Wines, Flavors, Prices (2024)

Decoy Merlot is a lush, easy-drinking red wine from the Duckhorn winery of Sonoma County, Californian.

It stands out with its delicate layers of black fruit flavors underscored by dark chocolate and baking spice notes.

Produced by Duckhorn Vineyards, one of North America’s premier producers of fine Bordeaux varietal wines, Decoy wines took the wine industry by storm with its inaugural vintage - the 1985 bottle.

Let’s discover the Decoy Merlot wine in detail - its taste, characteristics, and food pairings, and the 8 best bottles to buy in 2024.

Decoy Merlot Wine: Styles, Taste, And Food Pairings

Decoy produces three Merlot wines from the fruit of its best vineyard sites. 

Here’s the complete Decoy lineup of Merlot bottles:

• Decoy Sonoma County Merlot: This Merlot is elegant, bold, smooth, and fruit-forward with balanced acidity, silky tannins, and a concentrated finish.
• Decoy California Merlot: This fine wine displays refined tannins with luxurious fruit flavors, lively acidity, rustic undertones, and has a fruit-filled, juicy finish.
• Decoy Napa Valley Merlot: This remarkable wine has smooth tannins and a lush core of ripe fruit, vanilla layers, and oak.

The rich and fruity Decoy Merlot wines go best with lamb, beef, and veal. You can also serve them with a charcuterie board.

8 Best Decoy Merlot Wines To Buy In 2024

Let’s take a look at 8 delicious Decoy Merlot wines that you can serve at your next event:

1. 2013 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot
2. 2014 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot
3. 2016 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot
4. 2018 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot
5. 2019 Decoy California Merlot
6. 2008 Decoy Napa Valley Merlot
7. 2009 Decoy Napa Valley Merlot
8. 2017 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot

1. 2013 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot ($35)

This Sonoma County Merlot wine made exclusively from the Merlot grape varietal, is admired for its appealing balance, balanced acidity, and fine tannins. It has black cherry aromas and a palate of ripe fruit.

2. 2014 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot ($33)

This Sonoma County Merlot wine is made from Merlot with traces of Malbec and Cabernet Franc grape varieties. 

It has refined tannins, remarkable elegance, lively acidity, vibrant cranberry notes, and sophisticated hints of cassis and baking spice.

3. 2016 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot ($30)

This wine comprises 97% Merlot and 3% of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape varietal.

The Sonoma County Merlot displays balanced acidity, incredible elegance, silky tannins, black cherry flavor, and subtle notes of blueberry and cassis on the palate. 

4. 2018 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot ($25)

This Sonoma County Merlot wine was produced in a growing season dominated by mild weather and is made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.

It’s a remarkable red wine with balanced acidity, silky tannins, incredible elegance, and blueberry, forest floor, and plum notes.

5. 2019 Decoy California Merlot ($25)

The red blend of this wine is made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. 

It has silky tannins, luxurious fruit flavors, and black cherry, raspberry, white pepper, and plum notes. 

6. 2008 Decoy Napa Valley Merlot ($25)

This exceptional Napa Valley Merlot wine is made from the Merlot varietal and traces of Cabernet Sauvignon. 

It has lively acidity, refined tannins, vibrant cranberry aromas, and plum and baking spice notes.

7. 2009 Decoy Napa Valley Merlot ($25)

This exceptional Napa Valley Merlot is made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

It has refined tannins, a palate of fresh fruit flavors, and vibrant cranberry and forest floor notes.

8. 2017 Decoy Sonoma County Merlot ($24)

This fine wine is made from Merlot and traces of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Sonoma County Merlot displays an appealing balance, lively acidity, luxurious fruit flavors, silky tannins, raspberry and blueberry aromas, and sophisticated hints of cassis.

Decoy Merlot: Magnificent Wines From The Duckhorn Portfolio

The Duckhorn Decoy lineup comprises brilliant bottles, and the Decoy Merlot wines are some of the offerings you shouldn’t miss. 

These fine alcoholic beverages will pair perfectly with some of your best dishes and are a brilliant choice if you’re looking to indulge in fine wine.

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