Franciscan’s Merlot grows in the cooler half of Napa Valley, from the winery’s estate in the heart of the Oakville District on south to vineyards in Carneros. These cooler vineyards give more vibrant flavors and denser structure to the wine—two qualities that are critical to growing outstanding Merlot. In the winery,...
Alexander Valley Vineyards Merlot
Merlot has gotten a bad rap in recent years as a wimpy wine, but Alexander Valley Vineyards is convinced they will change a lot of minds with their 2006 Estate Merlot. It's dense and rich, qualities a lot of folks associate with Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Kevin Hall calls this a Merlot...
Blackstone Merlot Sonoma Reserve 2009
The Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Merlot offers pleasing aromas of fresh raspberry, black currant, clove and vanilla with a hint of earthiness. The wine is full-bodied with layers of bright red fruit, coffee and clove, finished with nice, well-integrated structure and a velvety mouthfeel. Try serving this soft and silky wine with...
St. Francis Winery Merlot 2007
Grown in loam, clay, and volcanic soil mixed with gravel, the 100% Sonoma County grapes in this wine are particularly intense. Grapes are hand-picked at the peak of ripeness, the majority from St. Francis' three estate vineyards in the Sonoma Valley, with micro-climates ranging from the hillsides of the Mayacamas Mountains...
Move south a little in the valley where the San Pablo Bay cools the vineyards in the afternoon and you have perfect Merlot weather. The majority of the Napa Cellars Merlot blend hails from these cooler regions in Napa Valley, such as Oak Knoll and Carneros. This wine is classic Napa...
The color is a rich ruby in depth with reddish hues. The aroma is appealing with nuances of dried cranberry, red raspberry, cherry, chocolate espresso, not to miss the subtle hints of mint and arugula. The pleasant balance in the flavor, while finishing on the crisp side, is accented by flavors...
Sbragia Family Vineyards Merlot Home Ranch 2007
Sbragia Home Ranch Vineyard, which has been farmed by the family for decades, is located on the East side of Dry Creek in Sonoma County, California. The eight-acre Merlot vineyard sits on the flatland of Dry Creek Valley, and area that had a propensity to flood before the Dry Creek Dam...
Provenance Merlot Napa Valley 2007
Provenance's 2006 Merlot isn’t shy, with its deep, dark garnet hue and abounding aromas of rich black cherry, cassis and clove. Approachable, integrated tannins frame the generous dark fruit flavors and coat the palate with soft velvet. The long, fruity finish, laced with autumn spices, ends with a lively cranberry zing....
Pine Ridge Merlot Crimson Creek
With sweet scents of baked berries on the nose, the 2005 Crimson Creek Merlot exudes warm cherry and cranberry aromas, woven with vanilla, brown sugar, white pepper and a slight minty nuance. Sweet and full-bodied on the palate, the soft, fleshy fruit flavor comes to the forefront, delivering with it the...
Produced only in select years, the Winemaker's Handprint is what all Merlots strive to be. It has deep, dark color, and its full-blown cherry nose is surrounded by toasty French oak. On the palate you'll find sweet fruit of cherry and plum, with hints of leather, cola and vanilla. And the...
Trinchero Family Vineyards Merlot Chicken Ranch 2008
The 28-acre Chicken Ranch Vineyard is located on the northern border of the Rutherford appellation. Sustainable farming methods (including Biodynamic techniques on some blocks) accompanied by low yields and aggressive canopy management produce wines that are dark, dense and packed with Rutherford Dust.” The 2004 vintage was a roller coaster. The...
A vastly underestimated variety in the market, Merlot is often considered to be a drink for those beginning to appreciate wines. However picked at optimum ripeness and managed correctly, Merlot can stand along side the best of reds. Sweet plums, Cherries, black fruits and soft tannins give this wine ample weight....
This Merlot opens with aromas of red currant, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate you’ll find flavors of raspberry, blackberry and cola with round tannins softened by seven months of aging in French and American oak.
This blend of Echelon’s best grapes comes from the benches and canyons that border the Salinas Valley. These wind-sheltered areas provide well-drained alluvial soils with warm early morning and late afternoon sunlight and cool nighttime temperatures. They enhance these excellent growing conditions with canopy management to reduce the yield, improve wine...
Rex Goliath Winery really loves this wine. Soft, supple, and complex. There is a certain elegance to this wine that fits their vision of the perfect Merlot: Pretty and seductive with a decidedly spicy nose of black cherry, cassis and cedar. Very ripe and round, almost like a Jolly Rancher candy....
Cakebread Cellar's 2005 Merlot offers a constellation of bright fruit aromas keyed on fresh black cherry, blueberry and plum, with fragrant scents of rose petal, tea-leaf, tobacco and cocoa adding interest and complexity. On the compact, supple palate, vibrant cherry, blackberry and cassis flavors are enlivened by a zesty black-tea spiciness...
This distinctive Merlot displays classic aromas of ripe red cherry and plum with hints of tobacco, herbs and vanilla oak on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied with supple and fruity flavors of cherry and spice notes on the palate, and soft tannins on the finish.
