Merlot

Bin

Bottle

Columbia Crest, Grand Estates, Columbia Valley, Washington State, 2000 Light in texture and ripe in flavor, with a nice package of cherry, tobacco and cedar flavors lasting impressively though the fine-grained finish. › Wine Spectator 88 points

#12

$24.99

Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cold Creek Merlot, Washington 2003 bright and juicy bursting with fresh blackberry, currant and a touch of spice. › Wine Spectator 90 points

#11

$34.99

Shafer, Napa Valley, California, 2002 (Half Bottle, 375 ml.) Smooth-textured, with polished currant, mocha, cranberry and cherry, plus touches of tobacco, coffee and spice. A bit tough-edged with tannin, but certainly not out of line for a young wine. › Wine Spectator 92 points

#17

$39.99

Turnbull, Merlot, Napa, California, 2003 great harmony richness and finesse with a core of blackberry, currant and wild berry fruit › Robert Parker 92 points

#15

$48.99

Whitehall lane Merlot Napa 2002 impressive with a dark rich concentrated core of flavors › Wine Spectator 90 points

#25

$49.99

Joseph Phelps Merlot Napa 2001 serves up a mix of currant, blackberry, herb and tobacco with a touch of cedar › Wine Spectator 88 points

#27

$64.99

Duckhorn Merlot Napa 2002 sweet, rich nose of plums, black currant and smoke. › Robert Parker 90 points

#18

$69.99

Pride, Napa-Sonoma, California, 1998 Impressive, expresso-style, deeply concentrated Merlot, boasting a core of rich currant, coffee, black cherry and anise. Firms up on the finish, where a touch of bay leaf adds complexity to the flavor profile. › Wine Spectator 93 points

#13

$79.99

Shafer, Merlot, Napa Valley, California, 2000 Smooth-textured, with polished currant, mocha, cranberry and cherry, plus touches of tobacco, coffee and spice. A bit tough-edged with tannin, but certainly not out of line for a young wine. › Wine Spectator 92 points

#23

$79.99

Spring Valley, Uriah, Walla Walla Valley, Washington, 2001 Gloriously ripe, decadent and complex, offering coffee-scented blackberry, currant, cherry and exotic spice aromas and flavors that extend and expand on the subtle, elegant finish. A graceful wine that packs in plenty of flavor and lasts and lasts. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. › Wine Spectator 94 points

#16

$79.99

St. Francis Estate, Reserve, Sonoma, California, 1997 Superripe California Merlot, rich and oaky, in an opulent style delivering layers of currant, black cherry, coconut, cedar and spice, and finishing with a long and intricate aftertaste. › Wine Spectator 92 points

#14

$79.99

Pride, Napa-Sonoma, California, 2001 Beautifully crafted, exquisitely balanced and rich in currant, exotic spice and ripe blackberry fruit. Turns spicy and exhibits pretty mocha-scented oak, with a long, broad, rich aftertaste. › Wine Spectator 93 points

#26

$89.99

David Arthur, Napa Valley, California, 1999 Well structured, with a tight, rich core of concentrated currant, herb, leather, prune and chocolate, revealing extra dimensions of depth and complexity. Firms up on the finish, with solid yet ripe tannins. › Wine Spectator 91 points

#24

$119.99

Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley, California, 1996 This wine is opaque black-purple colored, with a knockout nose of plums, black cherries, chocolate, raspberries, licorice, and toasty new oak. This is a riveting, mind-boggling Merlot that sets a new reference point for this varietal in California. › Wine Spectator 97 points

#19

$129.99