Merlot Wine

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2020

Jane Anson writes 94 Points |  They do such a good job of enrobing the limestone austerity enough to give a whiff of gunsmoke and toasted oak, without obscuring the blueberry and raspberry fruits, along with salinity and a tingle of minerality. Mathieu Cuvlier director, consultant Julien Viaud.  Drinking 2025 - 2040.  

Jeb Dunnuck writes 94 Points | Another killer wine in the vintage is the 2020 Château Côte De Baleau, which comes from a cooler, north-facing vineyard on the eastern side of the appellation. Almost all Merlot, it offers a medium to full-bodied, mouth-filling, layered style that carries plenty of ripe tannins, terrific mid-palate depth, and textbook Right Bank Merlot notes of red and black cherries, leather, dried flowers, and chalky minerality. It picks up more and more minerality with time in the glass and is a bonafide mineral bomb. Give it just a few years in the cellar and enjoy it over the coming 15-20 years. 

Georgina Hindle of Decanter writes 90 Points | Lashings of liquorice and dark chocolate combine with ripe blackcurrant and plums, giving a serious tone to this wine. It's well built, with good support from gently chewy and present tannins, with a long, minty, salty finish. There are touches of dried fruits to this, raisins and prunes, but the acidity is well balanced and this has a nice weight in the mouth. A little drying by the finish. Heft and power, but not brutish.  Drinking 2024 - 2034.

James Suckling writes 93 Points | Aromas of currants and blackberries with spiced chocolate, dried herbs and wet stones. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins and vivid acidity. Structured and meaty. Shows freshness and juiciness to its deep, dark-fruited character. Toned, firm finish. Drink from 2025.  -

Julia Harding MW of Jancis Robinson writes 16+ Points | Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Dark-fruited and a little closed on the nose. On the palate, firm, chewy but balanced. Lots of dark, not-overworked, fresh fruit. Straightforward with smooth tannic finish and enough freshness thanks to both acid and tannins. Not overdone.  Drinking 2026 -2036. 

Lisa Perrotti-Brown of the Wine Advocate | The 2020 Cote de Baleau is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 15th to 30th September and weighing in with an alcohol of 14.2%. It is being aged for 16-18 months in 20% new oak barrels, 60% second-fill barrels and 20% in vats. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little swirling to coax out youthful notions of crushed blackberries, mulberries and kirsch, plus hints of tar and dried Mediterranean herbs. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with crunchy red and black fruits with a chewy texture and lively backbone lifting the finish.  Drinking 2023 - 2032 

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 - Vintage 2021

Stacy Briscoe of the Wine Enthusiast writes 88 Points - Best Buy | This full-bodied, hardy red maintains an element of freshness throughout. An underlying herbaceous and earthy tone balances out the rich, ripe fruit structure. Find notes of black cherry, black plum, licorice, cacao, fresh fennel, dried tobacco, cumin and black tea.

Winemaker Description

Aromatics of bing cherries, sassafras and hints of pipe tobacco. Supple red fruits on the entry give way to touches of cedar and sweet herbs. 

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.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2021 

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. 

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. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Wine Spectator 85 Points  Delivers damson plum and sanguine notes mixed with a light cedar thread through the modest finish. Drink now. 

Winemaker Description 

The Caprice has a ruby ​​color with garnet. The nose is fruity (cherry and raspberry) and tasty with a nice expression of ripe Merlot. On the palate, the attack is fresh with fine and elegant tannins.A portion of the vines for Château Milon’s Cuvée Caprice are situated at the base of the Saint Christophe des Bardes slope and the rest  lie on the gravel soils of Saint Sulpice. While the average vine age is 30 years, it is believed that vines were planted on the plateau in the Middle Ages. 

Diverse array of soils dominated by sand, sandstone, clay, and gravel. Densely planted at 6600-9000 vines per hectare. The Bouyers farm sustainably and rigorously includes debudding, leaf-thinning and green harvesting.

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. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  One of the wines of the vintage is Jean-Luc Thunevin's 2020 Château Valandraud, which comes from the cooler, eastern side of Saint-Emilion. Exhibiting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, violets, new leather, and an almost Hermitage-like burning embers character, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, seamless tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and a finish that won't quit. A blend of 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's clearly in the same league as the 2019, if not slightly more concentrated. Give bottles 5-7 years in the cellar, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20-25 years or so.  Drinking 2028 to 2053.  - Jeb Dunnuck 99

William Kelley writes:  If the 2019 vintage at this address was something of a guilty pleasure, the 2020 Valandraud is simply guilty as charged. Exhibiting aromas of jammy black fruits mingled with toasted coconut, spices and caricatural slatherings of new oak, it's full-bodied, rich and chewy, with generously extracted tannins that clamp down on the finish. All that oak and extract impedes access to the wine's generous fruit, rendering it less demonstrative and gourmand than its 2019 counterpart, and that's a pity, as recent vintages of Valandraud have been among the more successful of the few remaining hold-out "garagiste" wines of the Right Bank.  Drinking 2025 to 2043.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92

Jane Anson writes:  Juicy, perfectly judged, delicious brambled fruits, this is exuberant without being overdone, just oozing with pleasure, inviting you to come on board. Expect waves of liqourice, powerful damson brambled jam, lime blossom, orange peel marmalade and saffron. This needs a good five more years in bottle before approaching, but you want this in your cellar. Founders Arnaud-Thunevin now in a 50% ownership with the Lefevre family from Sansonnet, 100% new oak, 49hl/ha yield.  Drinking 2027 to 2048.  - Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

James Suckling writes:  Very opulent and expressive aromas of black fruit and pine needles. So floral. Full-bodied with plush, velvety tannins and lots of fruit and texture. It goes on for minutes. Rich at the finish, but remains fresh and vivid. Superb. One of the great Valandrauds. Drink after 2027.  - James Suckling 99

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Valandraud is a stunner. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2020 possesses dazzling intensity from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plush dark red/black fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Even with all of its intensity, the 2020 is bright and wonderfully focused. Sweet floral and blood orange accents liven up the explosive finish. Magnificent.  Drinking 2028 to 2060.  - Vinous 98

Georgina Hindle writes:  Juicy and alive, a brightness to this even though the fruits are dark in profile - blackcurrant, black cherry, herbal-tinged blueberries - heady and seductive. Layers of acidity, mint, freshness and toast combine to give quite a full and complex palate with everything at the fore yet staying the right side of being too much. Strong and characterful but totally charming. I love the St-Emilion glamour and muscle, softly flexing with a salty minerality and unmistakable signature.  Drinking 2027 to 2046.  - Decanter 93

Jane Anson writes:  This is excellent, broad-shouldered with ample depth to the brambled fruits, liquorice, cigar box spice, with a gorgeously saline finish. Chalky, grippy tannins keep tugging you back into the body of the wine. The tannic grip is helped by a linen rather than silk texture that stops things being overly smooth and instead adds depth and interest to the powerfully knitted body, as do white flowers on the aromatics as it opens. Good stuff. 100% new oak for 24 months. A yield of 49hl/ha. Thunevin has sold a 50% stake in Valandraud to the Lefevre family at Sansonnet (also the new owners of Villemaurine, so a busy year for them).  Drinking 2029 to 2046.  - Decanter 96

Julia Harding MW writes:  Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Dark and oaky – lots of 70% dark chocolate. Pretty oaky, covering all else. The tannins are big and dense but there’s enough fresh fruit to fill it out for the long term.  Drinking 2030 to 2045.  - Jancis Robinson 17++

James Molesworth writes:  Tilts to the showy side, with a flourish of black currant and fig preserves, warmed black tea, melted black licorice and a hint of alder smoke as well, all framed by a warm loam- and espresso crema-accented finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2040.  - Wine Spectator 93

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description 

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

The grapes used to produce this exceptional Merlot were hand selected from Barkan's vineyards located in the northern Galil region. This Merlot has a deep ruby color with an extremely rich and full character. With its bouquet of ripe cherries, fresh peppers, and velvety soft tannins, Barkan Classic Merlot complements pasta or meat dishes as well as cheese.

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

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. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Joe Czerwinski writes:  Whitehall Lane's 2019 Merlot Napa Valley actually contains 87% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Slightly candied cherry notes mark the nose, framed by vanilla and touches of dried tobacco, while the medium to full-bodied palate is succulent and juicy, textured without being overly rich or tannic.  Drinking 2022 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90

James Suckling writes:  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. Drink or hold.  - Wine Spectator 91

Tim Fish writes:  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.  - Wine Spectator 91

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. 

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 

Ripe and appealing with red berry and cherry fruit flavors along with a hint of mint. Picks up a touch of vanilla on the soft, velvety finish. Perfect for any meal, or to serve at your next party.

Winemaker Description 

This affordable 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!

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Decanter 97 Points | Violet-edged floral attack, hitting you straight up with the full range of concentrated black fruits and spices. Such a great quality wine that stands out from the pack. Full of nuance, just when you think you are done it pushes another flavour into the room. The texture is controlled and precise, with slate edges that slow down its progress through the palate; just all round excellent terroir and winemaking. Tasted twice, a week apart, and its the depth to the palate that really sets it apart, and the mouth-scrapingly slow slate finish. 

James Suckling 97 Points | Lots of roses and dark fruit, such as blackberries and brambleberries on the nose. Full-bodied, yet tight and poised, with real focus and firmness and seamless tannins that run the length of the wine. Minerality and persistence in a cool way. This is very serious for the vintage and for the cellar. Try after 2025.

Jeb Dunnuck 96+ Points | The 2019 Château Pavie Macquin comes from a beautiful, cooler terroir located just outside the village of Saint-Emilion. A wine that always demands bottle age, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a tight, reserved wine with notes of ripe cassis, mulberry, and blackberry fruits as well as notes of spring flowers, sandalwood, and flowers. The purity is truly something, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a rich, layered mid-palate, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This is a wonderfully complete, nuanced, flawlessly balanced Pavie Macquin that will round into form with just 5-6 years of bottle age yet keep for 2-3 decades. 96+

Vinous 95-97 Points | The 2019 Pavie Macquin feels very tight on the nose at first and certainly from my sample bottle, I allowed it 15-20 minutes to open. Eventually it reveals very intense scents of black cherries, cassis and crushed violet, touches of blood orange in the background. The palate has a satin-like texture, almost Vosne-Romanée-like, with extraordinarily pure blue and black fruit. Seamless! There is fine tension on the finish with impressive persistence. This is a seriously good Pavie-Macquin from Nicolas Thienpont and his team. 

Winemaker Description 

A soft, elegant and approachable medium-bodied wine with complete, rounded characters.

Producer Description 

Our Napa Valley Merlot opens with lively bright red fruits and a soft, lush texture. Delicate floral aromas combine with ripe blackberry, milk chocolate, wet stone and barrel spice. The finish is bright and spreads out on the palate to reveal mineral notes that support the silky tannin structure.

Deep ruby in color, the 2019 Napa Valley Merlot features a tempting nose with hints of violet, ripe cherry and warm baking spices. The palate is supple in texture with luxurious layers of brambly red fruits, cocoa, and dusty tannins. This classic Napa Valley Merlot finishes long and vibrant with lingering notes of graphite.

Producer Description 

Our Merlot is medium-bodied with deep blackberry aromas and a soft, satisfying finish. Enjoy its smooth flavors with Grilled Pork Chops with Apples or Rosemary-Braised Lamb Shanks.

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

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

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. 

Winemaker Description 

Beautifully lush and expressive, this alluring Merlot draws you in with aromas of black currant, black cherry, boysenberry, and sweet baking spices. On the palate, it is plush and polished, with silky tannins carrying the luxurious dark berry, creamy mocha and bittersweet chocolate flavors to a long, supple 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.