Merlot

I love Merlot. In fact Merlot was the grape that started me on the road to fine wine.
I still seek out labels I’ve never sampled and end up finding another great one.

Sadly, people sometimes forget just how great Merlot can really be (guess that leaves more for me!)

It’s been long lamented that the movie Sideways seems to have given the grape a bad rap. But the simple truth is in the tasting. Like any underrated grape, Merlot can be genius.

Example? ….Petrus from France.

We’ve assembled a short list of what we consider to be excellent Merlot choices. Each of these wines stands out on their own for various reasons. The prices are reasonable so you have a broad choice.

In our efforts to make wine less ‘scary’, here is an opportunity to discover Merlot’s worth.

Tried and true.

Santa Ema 2004 Merlot, Chile $14.00
Dusted Valley Boomtown 2007 Merlot, Walla Walla, WA. $15.00
Rutherford Hill 2005 Merlot, Rutherford, Napa Valley $18.00
NXNW-2005 Merlot, Eugene, Oregon $19.00
Benziger 2006 Merlot, Glen Ellen $20.00
Elizabeth-Spencer 2005 Merlot, Napa Valley $25.00
Marilyn Merlot 2005 Merlot-Napa Valley $25.00
Burgess-2005 Merlot, Napa Valley $25.00
Seven Hills 2007 Merlot, Walla Walla, WA. $29.00
Hedges Family Estate 2005, Red Mountain, Benton, WA $26.00
Gundlach-Bundschu 2005 Merlot, Rhinefarm Vineyard, Sonoma $30.00
Frazier 2007 Merlot, Napa Valley $40.00
Paras Vineyard 2005 Merlot, Mt. Veeder-Napa Valley $42.00
Ehlers 2006 Merlot, St. Helena, Napa Valley $45.00
Shafer 2007 Merlot, Stags Leap District-Napa Valley $45.00
Barnett Vineyards 2008 Merlot, Spring Mountain $48.00
Duckhorn Vineyards 2005 Merlot, Napa Valley $50.00
Cakebread 2006 Merlot, Rutherford, Napa Valley $62.00
Pride Mountain 2007 Merlot, Spring Mountain $64.00