ICONS OF NAPA

For decades, a famous ad campaign asked, “What Becomes a Legend Most?” Over the years, it featured stars like Judy Garland, Maria Callas, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor and Lauren Bacall. More recently, it showcased Janet Jackson and Gisele Bündchen. All were pop culture icons of their era, celebrated for their talent, charisma and longevity.

Wines also achieve legendary status for their quality, charisma and longevity. These are the opposite of cult bottlings. They connect through a good story that built greatness over time. They capture our imagination, ignite an air of aspiration and forge an emotional tie that’s about more than what’s in the glass. These are nine legends of the Napa Valley.

Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot

Considered Napa’s most significant first-growth site for Merlot, Three Palms Vineyard put pioneering Duckhorn Vineyards on the world stage. The story began with 800 cases of the first Three Palms designate in 1978, made by Tom Rinaldi, the founding winemaker. It sold for $12.50 per bottle, a hefty sum at the time.

Founder Dan Duckhorn’s inspiration from the beginning was Château Pétrus, a famous Bordeaux from Pomerol made with 100% Merlot. With Three Palms, he felt he could contend. At the warm, eastern edge of the valley below Calistoga, the vineyard is indeed blessed with three palm trees, planted in the late 1800s by San Francisco socialite Lillie Coit.

Though on the valley floor, it’s coveted for its lean, rocky and alluvial soils, where the roots have to dig deep for water and nutrients. Volcanic stones strewn about contribute structure and intensity to the wines, which buzz in dense, dark black and red fruit, dusty