2023 Clos de Napa Merlot Reserve Rutherford Napa Valley 750 ml

It’s no secret that not all Napa Valley terroir is equal—and that Rutherford sits at the top of the heap. In the breathtaking 2023 vintage, our go-to Napa denizen Trevor Sheehan achieved the near-impossible by crafting a stunning Rutherford Merlot at a 1990s price. Picked at two prime Rutherford sites, this plummy, velvety textured Merlot is an outstanding value at its $30 SRP—and a barn-burner of a steal at this price. 

We know the rules: We can rave about the wine, we can talk up winemaker Trevor Sheehan, but we can only discuss the vineyard sources on the vaguest of terms—but because the wine delivers so much bang for the buck, our members won’t sweat the sourcing details. 

In that way, Trevor’s 2023 Clos de Napa Merlot is exactly what we expect from this well-connected Napa Valley guru. Sourced from two prime sites in the sweet spot of Rutherford—in a vintage that’s looking like an all-time great—aged 14 months in 100% French oak (60% of it new), it’s a phenomenal bottle that comes at an unbelievable price. 

Trevor has become quite a go-to guy for great Napa value, and many of our members know his handiwork from the past few years with Wine Access. He got his start over a decade ago, and now—armed with a Rolodex of gold and a reputation for scoring “unobtainable” grapes—he rarely sources from less than the best. His Cabernets and Embroidery Pinots are member-favorites, selling huge amounts and drawing raves, and we’re not sure we’ve ever said no to one of his wines. That’s how good they are.

There was a time when you could reliably find a great Napa Merlot for about $30—but it was a long time ago. Now, with top Merlots fetching into the triple digits and solid bottles costing $60+, it’s rare to find one at Trevor’s $30 list price, and just about impossible to find one at this discount—llet alone from a prestige AVA like Rutherford.