Merlot Wine

Expert Ratings

90 Points Vinous | The 2020 Merlot Grand Estates is darkly floral and earthy with hints of animal musk and crushed blackberries. This washes across the palate with juicy acids that enliven its tart wild berry fruits. It leaves a mark of minerality along with a chewy blueberry skin concentration and hints of mocha. This is an excellent entry to the "value category" of Washington State Merlot.

90 Points James Suckling | Blackberries, tobacco, mint chocolate and dark cherries here, with a kiss of vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied with soft, ripe tannins and a creamy finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

This Merlot has round juicy flavors of dark plum and herb, finishes bold and structured with notes of vanilla and raspberry.

Pair this wine with blue cheese, duck, beef, veal and dark chocolate

Expert Ratings

Winemaker Description

Notes of blackcurrant, ripe plum and toasty oak. Pair with garlic and rosemary rubbed prime rib. Gluten free, vegan friendly.

Smooth Ambler Spirits set out to produce fine artisan spirits by combining patient Appalachian know-how with the finest of American ingredients. Located in the rural Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia, Smooth Ambler uses state-of-the-art distillery equipment in conjunction with the natural resources of the region; high-valley mountain air, natural waters, ideal temperature variations and friendly folks. The result is a truly remarkable crafted drink Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 88 Points | Juicy and direct, with plum and blackberry fruit leading the way, while light anise and applewood notes add energy through the finish. Accessible now. Drink now through 2025. 4,200 cases made, 400 cases imported. 

Winemaker Description

Dark red in color with aromas of cherry, cocoa, black olive and toasted hazelnut on the nose. On the palate, mellow tannins with a spicy vanilla and chocolate finish.

Expert Ratings

91 Points Tasting Panel | Made with grapes from the temperate El Pomar District and aged 12 months in Ameri- can oak, this is a distinguished, lush red. Ripe boysenberry melds with milk chocolate on the luxurious entry, and the creamy mouthfeel is graced with vanilla spice and violets. (2021).

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | Clean lines of black cherry and warm baking spices draw the nose into this widely available bottling, perfect for midweek enjoyment. Smooth tannins retain just enough edge on the palate to balance the cherry cordial and toasty wood flavors. (2021).

Winemaker Description

Varietal aromas of plum, currant, and violet are elevated by a light barrel signature of baking spices and toasted pastry. The addition of Malbec contributes notes of pomegranate and hibiscus flower. Cabernet Franc brings layers of cocoa and peppery spice. The mouth-watering palate transitions to a lingering black cherry finish.

This versatile wine pairs well with grilled sausage and vegetable shish kebabs or creamy spinach and tomato tortellini. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

The 67 Wine Petit Somm Series® is a project created by our buyer, Oscar Garcia Moncada. The entire lineup offers a meticulously curated collection of high-quality, value-driven wines. The artwork on the labels represents some of the most iconic neighborhoods and landmarks in NYC.

Aromas and flavors of black plum, toasted oak, tobacco, sage, and curry with a slightly chewy, crisp, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body. A spicy, woody Merlot with a nice food-friendly juiciness.

Ruby-red color with violet hues. Intense, fresh and fruity aromas of blackberry and plum, melded with smooth toasted notes and sweet vanilla. A medium-bodied wine with smooth tannins and a pleasing finish.

'Gato Negro Merlot is a smooth red wine, fresh and intense flavors and aromas with notes of plum and vanilla. Wonderful and full of flavor, delicious mouthfeel, medium body, smooth tannins and a pleasant finish.

Winemaker Description

Crafted from both mountain and valley floor vineyards, this alluring wine embodies the rich diversity of great Napa Valley Merlot. From its velvety tannins and lively acidity to luxurious layers of plum, candied black cherry, red licorice and sweet baking spices this gracefully structured Merlot glides to a lush, lingering finish. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 93 Points | A well-rounded, velvety and flavorful merlot with dark cherries, grilled bell peppers and some baking spices. Supple with a caressing texture to the medium body and melty tannins. Polished and mellow. (2021).

Winemaker Description

The bouquet of this Merlot is complex with scents of violets, sweet plums, and vanilla bean. On the palate, the wine is velvety and soft in texture, with flavors of plums, blackberries and cherries, and a long cocoa powder finish.

Pair this medium-bodied wine with medium-bodied dishes, pair the fruit and floral characteristics of the wine with savory ingredients like mushrooms, or enjoy with lighters proteins like chicken or anything with a tomato based sauce. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot is a full-bodied red wine that possesses well-balanced acidity, complexity, and structure.

This red wine's soft, versatile style complements grilled meats, especially steak, lamb, pork chops, and hamburgers. Enjoy this savory wine with hearty pasta with Bolognese sauce. 

Winemaker Description

Aged for 10 months in Hungarian oak barrels, our Merlot shows a deep garnet color and an enticing nose of mulberry, pine, and cocoa powder. 

The palate is rich with plum, black cherry and cedar that comes through a smooth, supple mouth-feel, finished with soft, round tannins. While delicious to drink now, it should age well for many years.

Winemaker Description

The incredible quality of the 2018 vintage is on full display in our Estate Merlot. Sensationally dense with ripe plum, boysenberry, and blackberry flavors that leap out of the glass, the smooth, rich fruit is complemented by milk chocolate, fresh tobacco, sandalwood, black licorice, violet, and mocha. 

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Merlot excelled in 2018, and Pride's 2018 Merlot offers a beautiful, medium to full-bodied, plump, rounded style that's a joy to drink. Giving up lots of redcurrants, black cherries, tobacco leaf, earth, and chocolate, it has nicely integrated tannins and no hard edges. It's a gem to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years, if not upwards of a decade or more.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2018 Merlot is another very pretty wine in this part of the Pride range. Plump and juicy, with mid-weight structure, the 2018 is gorgeous right out of the gate. Succulent black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and spice all flesh out effortlessly, with bright acids that keep the flavors lively. The restrained style is so appealing.

The incredible quality of the 2018 vintage is on full display in our Estate Merlot. Sensationally dense with ripe plum, boysenberry, and blackberry flavors that leap out of the glass, the smooth, rich fruit is complemented by milk chocolate, fresh tobacco, sandalwood, black licorice, violet, and mocha. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

This Merlot offers notes of raspberry croissant, red currants, cocoa powder, and layers of graphite. The palate showcases fine, firm tannins alongside chocolate cherry lollipop, red plums, dried goji berries, and toasted brioche. It is supple in texture and shows attractive depth on the finish. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 91 Points |  Refined and structured, with expressive red currant, toasty mocha and tomato leaf tones that gather tension and polish toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2029.

James Suckling 91 Points |  Vibrant, fruity nose of ripe plums, raspberries, mulberries, licorice and nutmeg. Some chocolate orange, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins. Plush, round and succulent.

Winemaker Description

Made for sharing. Crafted using unique growing techniques and state-of-the-art technology for winemaking, this California wine is made with high-quality grapes from the Lodi region. With a well-balanced acidity, this red merlot wine features beautifully integrated tannins that create complexity and structure. 

Rich aromas of blackberry, cherry, chocolate and red berries complement an enticing ripe plum, toasty mocha oak and cherry cola flavor. This full-bodied Woodbridge merlot wine has a soft and versatile style that pairs well with hearty pasta with Bolognese sauce, grilled steak, lamb, pork chops and hamburgers.

For best taste and quality, store this bottle of wine at room temperature and chill before serving. Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2021 Woodbridge Winery, Acampo, CA

Winemaker Description

A very pleasing effort, the smooth and softly textured Glen Ellen Merlot is as good as it gets for a ready-to-enjoy red wine; fine with beef. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

99 Points Jeb Dunnuck | A real “wow” wine, the 2020 Clos L'Eglise sports deep ruby hue as well as an absolutely stunning bouquet of black cherries, red plums, damp earth, chocolate, truffle, and lead pencil. This deep, full-bodied, concentrated, beauty has that classic Pomerol opulence and richness paired with an incredible sense of elegance. The tannins are perfectly ripe as well. Give bottles just 4-5 years, and it's going to age beautifully. This is the finest wine I've tasted from the Garcin-Lévêque family, surpassing both the 2009 and 2016. Don't miss it.

96 Points Vinous Media | The 2020 Clos L'Eglise is not as showy as it was from barrel, perhaps because of its recent bottling. Bright red-toned fruit, spice, mint, blood orange and rose petal are all laced together. En primeur, Clos L'Eglise was quite powerful, but I see more finesse today. Even so, this is one of the most concentrated Clos L'Eglises ever, since surpassed by the 2022, though!

96 Points James Suckling | This has a pretty nose of chocolate, praline, blueberries, lavender and bramble berries. It’s medium-bodied with firm, compact tannins. Firm and focused with an enticing bitter chocolate character throughout. Some smoked wood. Intense and tightly wound. Opens on the palate. Try in 2027.

94 Points Decanter | Inky ruby colour, a muscular big-styled Pomerol which will win plenty of friends. Velvety tannins, great persistency, confident, contemporary and deftly walks the line between concentrated and nuanced.

93 Points Wine Advocate | Aromas of ripe plums and raspberries mingled with hints of rose petals and toasty new oak preface the 2020 Clos l'Eglise, a medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping wine with a broad attack that segues into a fleshy core of fruit, with powdery extract asserting itself on the youthfully chewy finish. 

Expert Reviews

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This wine is now mature, showing richness while also preserving elegance. Earthy, herbal tones are laced through the wine’s juicy fruit texture. Enjoy now for best enjoyment.

Wine Spectator 90-93 Points | Still very primal, but enticing, with sappy raspberry, sweet spice, melted licorice and linzer torte notes that have yet to stretch out fully. There's racy acidity as well, so this should knit nicely.

Winemaker Description

Chateau Ste. Michelle crafts this wine to be their complex yet approachable Merlot. The wine offers aromas of black cherry, leather and spice with layers of rich dark red fruit flavors and a long, smooth, sweet finish. A touch of Syrah adds a jammy fruit character. 

Winemaker Description

This delicious, versatile wine begins with aromas of blackberry, rose hip, dried cranberries and hints of boysenberry followed by notes of violets and crushed spices.

On the palate, the wine begins with a soft, dense, lush, tannin structure supported by flavors of red berry fruit, subtle acidity and a long flavorful, vanilla finish. 

Winemaker Description

Featuring well-balanced fruit, lush with flavors of caramel, ripe red fruits and chocolate.

Diamond Collection wines are made from grapes grown across California and are carefully combined to create wines perfect for all occasions – including those special just because ones.

Diamond Collection Merlot derives its complexity and lush concentration by blending fruit from diverse appellations in California. 

Winemaker Description

A brilliant deep mahogany red with a glint of purple courtesy of the Petite Sirah, this Merlot’s lovely hue sets the stage for a generous palate of rich, ripe fruit. Aromas of blueberry and plum leap from the glass, layered over a subtle thread of graphite, pencil shaving and a suggestion of dried herbs. This medium-bodied, medium-toast wine has ripe tannins and a long, velvety-smooth finish. 

Winemaker Description

Aromas of plum, raspberry and cherry are layered with earthy tones of mushroom, sage and pine. Soft on the palate, flavors of black cherry and red plum with notes of dark chocolate lead to a bright finish.

Try this wine with fatty dishes. Red meats and flavor-forward ingredients like cooked tomatoes will deliciously complement this wine’s brightness and fine-grained tannins. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

This is a medium-bodied Merlot, displaying aromas of English toffee, vanilla, star anise, Santa Rosa plum, and leather.The palate is velvety smooth with notes of ripe plum, dried raspberry, nougat, and mocha on the finish.

The fruit forward, easy-drinking qualities of this Merlot make it the perfect wine to pair with any red meat course, Italian entrées and fragrantly-spiced roasted or grilled poultry dishes. 

Expert Review

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Aromas of red cherries, black currants and cinnamon offer plenty to like in this velvety wine, while cocoa and vanilla join in on the palate, framed by moderate tannins. The wine is full in body, rich in oak and fruit flavors.

Winemaker Description

The 2021 Merlot has inviting aromas of dark fruit and spice which translate well at first sip. Flavors of cherry, blueberry, and vanilla carry through the palate. Velvety tannins come from behind to give this Merlot a smooth, polished finish. 

This Napa Valley Merlot is sourced from a combination of high elevation mountain sites as well as wonderful benchland vineyards around the valley. Freemark Abbey blends in a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure and balance. The wine opens with aromas of ripe plum, blueberry, milk chocolate and cedar. The palate is met with flavors of wild raspberry, bramble fruits, allspice, cinnamon, dry herbs, and oak spice.

The textures are supple yet vibrant with well-integrated tannins that drink beautifully now on its own or paired with a wide range of dishes.

Winemaker Description

Mevushal. This wine takes roots on the beautiful and romantic Tuscan HIlls. This smooth, fruity and juicy wine will take you one step closer to Tuscany.

Winemaker Description

Our Merlot is medium-bodied with a hint of oak and flavors of cherries and plums. It is rich in the mouth and ends in a soft fruit filled finish. 

Winemaker Description

This vibrant and lifted Merlot exudes rich plum flavours with undertones of both red and dark fruit and a soft touch of oak. As the wine develops in the glass, layers of chocolate, nutmeg and cinnamon spice come to the fore. The soft mouth-feel and tannin integration allow for all the beautiful flavours of this wine to shine through.

Winemaker Description 

The Beringer Founders' Estate Merlot is approachable and delicious. Hints of plum and brown spice on the nose compliment the boysenberry, blackberry and blueberry finish on the palate. It's well-balanced, soft tannins make this wine a perfect accompaniment to a variety of foods, such as grilled meats or hearty vegetable dishes. 

Winemaker Description

Israel. The Yarden Merlot Allone Habashan 2016 is the first release from this vineyard. The wine presents a fragrant blend of aromas featuring ripe red and black fruits, flowers, spice, tobacco, orange zest and chocolate.

This attractive single-vineyard wine is full-bodied, flavorful and complex. The wine aged for 18 months in small French oak barrels, of which 70% were new. While ready to enjoy upon release the wine will improve in the bottle over the coming years, and should stay in excellent drinking condition for a decade or more from harvest.

Winemaker Description

The wine hits the palate with a silky, smooth texture and juicy bright red fruits suggesting pomegranate and berries. Well integrated oak, earth, and spice notes complement the fruit and lead to a long cocoa finish.

Expert Reviews

93 Points James Suckling:  Aromas of pine, plum and redcurrant. Medium-bodied with fresh, mineral character and silky tannins. Bright and cool on the palate. Balanced and juicy. So approachable and delicious that its hard to put down.

Wine & Spirits 93 Points:   Here’s a temperate merlot that’s not mimicking cabernet. It’s a tight wine from the cool reaches of Coombsville, with just enough greenness to push back on the lush, blue-fruited ripeness. A sapid, clean red for beef Wellington.

Winemaker Description

The Grapes of Roth is Winemaker Roman Roth's private label, and a true testament to his classic, yet adventerous, wine-making style. Wonderful dark cherry fruit with well integrated oak, classic graphite and great minerality is complimented by a very savory and elegant finish.

Dark red brick in color. Elegant aromas of cassis and fine toasted sandalwood fill the glass. The mouth-feel is rich and concentrated, yet balanced with wonderful fruit of plumbs, prunes and amazing minerality. The finish has layers of ripe tannins and nicely toasted oak with fine classic earthiness, leather and iodine notes. The fruit and alcohol provide great length and make this a very special Merlot that possesses great aging potential and is the perfect partner with food.

This is a wine to be aged. It has a huge maturation curve ahead and will gain many more nuances and facets. Serve just at room temperature. Pair this Merlot with dishes you might think of for big, bold wines: steak, cassoulet, duck and decadent dark chocolate desserts.