Merlot

Fall Creek Meritus 2006

Price: $39 Maker: Fall Creek Vineyards, Tow, Texas Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot blend Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork Alcohol: 15.9% Our Rating: 9.3 out of 10

I pulled a bottle of Fall Creek Meritus 2006 off my shelf without knowing anything about it, other than the fact that it was prominently labeled as [...]

Peregrine Hill Merlot 2006

Price: $11 Maker: Peregrine Hill, Fort Stockton, Texas Varietal: Merlot Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork Alcohol: 12% Our Rating: 8.9 out of 10

A Texas Merlot? Peregrine Hill Merlot 2006 is just that, and does the Lone Star state proud. Despite having an unusually low alcohol content for a Merlot, this wine is long [...]

Some of us are red wine people, and face a dilemma when dining on fish or other sea creatures: traditional seafood menu pairings always involve white wines. An interesting article by “Unashamedly Creative” suggests some unexpected pairings with traditional reds:

Merlot for Tuna, Marlin

Merlot is our first fishy friend and works incredibly well [...]

Yalumba Premium Selection Cabernet Merlot 2009

Price: $9 Maker: Yalumba, Angaston, Australia Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot Blend Packaging: 2 liter box, push-button spigot Alcohol: 13.5% Our Rating: 6 out of 10

One sip of Yalumba Premium Selection Cabernet Merlot 2009 transported me back to a lovely afternoon in Venice. Unfortunately, the memory was of a cheap, almost undrinkable bulk red [...]

Killer Juice Merlot 2006

Price: $19 Maker: Killer Juice Vineyards, Ripon, California Varietal: Merlot Packaging: 3-liter box, twist spigot Alcohol: 13.5% Our Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Killer Juice Central Coast Merlot 2006 is another in one of my favorite series of box wines, the Killer Juice/Angel Juice lineup. This medium-bodied Merlot has a juicy flavor, mostly blackberries, with [...]

Franciscan Oakville Estate Magnificat 2003

Price: $50 Maker: Franciscan Oakville Estate, Rutherford, California Varietal: Red Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork Alcohol: 14.1 % Our Rating: 8.9 out of 10

We opened our bottle of Franciscan Oakville Estate Magnificat 2003 as a Christmas dinner treat to accompany a standing rib roast. This is [...]

Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois Red 2006

Price: $10 Maker: Folie à Deux Winery, St. Helena, Napa County, California Varietal: Blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon Packaging: Bottle, natural cork Alcohol: 13.5% Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois Red 2006 is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon that most heavily favors the Zin [...]

Cavit Merlot Trentino 2005

Price: $10 Maker: Cavit S.C., Trento, Italy Varietal: Merlot Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork Alcohol: 12.5 % Our Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Cavit Merlot Trentino 2005 starts with a mild berry and licorice nose. Its flavor is very juicy, with strawberry and cherry notes. The finish is a bit astringent.

According to the [...]

Santa Rita 120 Merlot 2006

Price: $10 Maker: Viña Santa Rita S.A., Santiago, Chile Varietal: Merlot Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork Alcohol: 14.1% Our Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Santa Rita 120 Merlot 2006 is a big, bold red, almost un-Merlot-like in its boldness and complexity. Its nose is pleasant but ordinary, with ripe raspberry and vanilla notes. On [...]

Concannon Central Coast Merlot 2006

Price: $9 Maker: Concannon Vineyard, Livermore & San Luis Obispo, California Varietal: Merlot Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork Alcohol: 13.5% Our Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Concannon Central Coast Merlot 2006 starts with a big licorice nose, and its flavor features raspberry, strawberry, and a bit of tart cherry. It’s not an overly complex [...]

Box Wines