2020 Wente Vineyards Merlot Sandstone, USA, California, Livermore, Wine Review

A delicious, easy drinking value in California Merlot. This is a blend of 76% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec, 2% Petite Sirah. Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cherries, menthol, and baking spices. With air, some black cherries emerge. Full bodied with a velvety texture. Medium to firm tannins. On the palate, black cherry fruit with a bit of milk chocolate. Long, tannic finish. This should drink well for the next five to seven years. It drinks well on its own, and would work great with a (veggie) burger.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2020

Current Price:

$20.00USD

2021 Oberon Merlot, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2021

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$28.00USD

Oberon is part of the Michael Mondavi family of wines. This wine was quite good and very interesting. It is of course, mostly Merlot (sourced in Oakville) but there is an undisclosed amount of Zinfandel and Syrah in the wine which seems to give it a bit more structure and likely a bit of acidity as well. The people at Oberon feel it adds more lushness. Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, spice and chocolate. Full bodied. Light to medium tannins. On the palate, this is delicious. Flavors of black cherries, milk

2018 Luna Vineyards Merlot Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A-

Luna made some nice wines. This was certainly one. Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cherries, milk chocolate, spice, and slight plums. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, this is easy drinking but also has some depth. Chocolate covered cherries with a slight bit of undergrowth. Good finish. Nice on its own, this is a classic burger wine as well. Drink over the next ten years.

2014 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Merlot Reserve Selection, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2014

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$23.00USD

This is a nice value in inexpensive Merlot. It is a blend of 88% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Medium ruby in color. The nose has plums, cherries and spice. On the palate, this is light to medium bodied. Light cherry fruit. Easy drinking. Nice finish. This is made for immediate drinking. It drinks well on its own and would be great with burgers or grilled chicken. Drink over the next couple of years.

2016 Plumpjack Merlot Napa Valley, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$70.00USD

This is an exceptional California Merlot. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cherries, slight plums, chocolate, cedar and spice. Full bodied. On the palate, cherries, milk chocolate, smoke and spice. Medium tannins. Still very primary, this should continue to mature for the next five to ten years and be good for another ten after that. Drinks great on its own, it would work well with a burger or roast.

2016 Flora Springs Merlot, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$29.99USD

Despite what you may think, Sideways didn't kill the California Merlot market as much as it made Pinot Noir stylish. There are still some fine Merlots being made. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has a nice chocolate covered cherry quality to it. Some spice as well. On the palate, this takes about thirty minutes of air to open and then drinks very well. It is more expressive (right now) on the palate with milk chocolate covered cherries and a nice vanilla streak. Not candied as much as liqueur notes. Good balance. Nice finish. This drinks very well on its own and would b

2020 Wente Vineyards Merlot Sandstone, USA, California, Livermore, Wine Review

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