Wine Reviews: Magnificent Napa Merlot

Wines That Will Inspire You to Give Merlot a Second Chance

Some days, Merlot is my favorite of the five Bordeaux grape varietals. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear, “this wine will really appeal to Cab-lovers” when tasting some of the great full-bodied Merlots out there. Several of the bottles I’ve tried certainly live up to that sentiment. I’m sure many of you know the hit Merlot took after the movie “Sideways” was released in 2004. After eight years, it’s time to look ahead and revisit the beauty this grape has to offer. Following are reviews of Merlots I’ve recently sampled across a wide price range* for you to consider.

Merlot Reviews

• Pahlmeyer 2009 Merlot ($75) – This is one of the crème-de-la-crèmes of Napa Valley and a wonderful special-occasion wine, rated 94 points by Wine Spectator. The 2009 is comprised of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet. The nose on this one was amazing, with notes of oak, violet, cranberry and mocha. Flavors included cherry and allspice. It displayed soft tannins and a nice, lengthy finish. Rating: 4.50
• Shafer 2009 Merlot ($46-$55) – One of Napa’s iconic wineries, their 2009 Merlot is another stellar example of what they can do. This vintage is a blend of 92% Merlot, 7% Cabernet and 1% Malbec with a deep, purplish hue. Strong aromas of vanilla and plum gave way to flavors of anise, cherry and eucalyptus. An excellent winery to visit, as well. Rating: 4.75
• Markham 2009 Merlot ($20-$25) – Of this bunch, the Markham 2009 Merlot is the clear standout, demonstrating the same impressive quality and flavor as its higher-priced peers. I’ve tasted previous vintages of Markham Merlot and have been consistently impressed. This dark ruby gem offered notes of cocoa, coffee and plum on the nose and complementary flavors, as well as dark fruit on the tongue. Markham is another great place to stop along Highway 29 in Napa. They showcase a wide array of rock n’ roll-themed art inside the winery. Rating: 4.75
• Stags’ Leap 2008 Merlot ($33-$39) – This was one of the first wines I’ve tasted from Stags’ Leap. The 2008 includes 92% Merlot, 5% Petite Sirah and 3% Cabernet. Aromas were predominantly of clove, cocoa and dark fruit. Though this wine did hit many marks, it doesn’t “wow” like the others. Rating: 3.5
• Rutherford Hill 2007 Merlot ($23) – Rutherford wines are typically characterized by the “dusty” terroir of its appellation, which is a trait I love about wines from this AVA. Interestingly, this vintage was really pale in color comparison to the other deep, dark, purplish Merlots of this tasting group and also fell flat in flavor. I’m not sure if it was this particular bottle, but I do hope to try other wines from this producer in the future. Rating: 2.0

*Prices are approximate based on what I paid at retail.

There are many, many more terrific Merlots out there – expect more articles on this varietal. Have you tried any worth recommending?