M E R L O T 98 CHATOM VINEYARDS 2009 Merlot Calaveras County $20 (tasted 2/10/14) 98 KENNEDY SHAH 2013 Merlot Columbia Valley $14 (tasted 9/4/16) 98 MCMANIS 2013 Merlot California $10 97 HOOK & LADDER 2008 Merlot Estate Bottled - Russian River Valley $24 97 KENNEDY SHAH 2016 Merlot Columbia Valley $20 Inviting wild berry, blackberry, black plum, strawberry jam, cassis and pepper spice supported by light earth, cedar, vanilla and oak. Bold and spicy on the palate, this is an aggressive merlot that takes over your mouth, and holds it hostage all the way through the long, slightly rough, lingering finish. (tasted 6/5/18) 97 KENNEDY SHAH 2012 Merlot Columbia Valley $14 (tasted 1/14/16) 97 PEDRONCELLI 2012 Merlot Bench Vineyards - Dry Creek Valley $16 97 PEJU 2009 Merlot Napa Valley $35 97 THOMAS HENRY 2010 Merlot California $18 Beautiful nose of blackberry, cherry, raspberry, and a little strawberry and plum, with just enough vanilla and oak. Made like a merlot (and not a cabernet), this is a wonderfully smooth, elegant wine that’s well-balanced and leaves you wanting more on the long, round, lingering finish. 96 AIRFIELD 2014 Merlot Yakima Valley $18 (tasted 11/2/16) 96 BOGLE 2012 Merlot California $10 96 BROADSIDE 2013 Merlot Margarita Vineyard - Paso Robles $20 Nice deep plum, black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and blueberry with light earth notes, spice, vanilla and oak. This is a well-balanced wine, with good mouthfeel, spicy fruit and a nice long, slightly sticky finish. (tasted 8/3/15) 96 BRUTOCAO 2011 Merlot Bliss Vineyard - Mendocino $22 Pretty plum, black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and hints of currant mingle with dark coffee/black tea, light earth notes, and oak. This well-balanced wine has wonderful mouthfeel, good fruit and secondary character, and ends in a nice long, lingering, spicy finish. 96 BRUTOCAO 2009 Merlot Bliss Vineyard - Mendocino $20 Pretty plum, black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and hints of currant mingle with dark coffee/black tea, light earth notes, vanilla and oak. This well-balanced wine has wonderful mouthfeel, good fruit and secondary character, and ends in a nice long, lingering, spicy finish. 96 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2020 Merlot California $13 (tasted 7/1/22) 96 EAGLE GLEN 2014 Merlot Napa Valley $22 (tasted 6/3/17) 96 FREI BROTHERS 2010 Merlot Reserve - Dry Creek Valley $20 96 IRONSTONE 2011 Merlot California $12 Fresh plum, cherry, strawberry and raspberry aromas in a light mineral dust, violets and floral spices. Straightforward on the palate, fresh, fruit-driven flavors with hints of oak and caramel, leading to a beautiful round tannin finish. For $12/bottle, buy by the case! 96 KINGS' RANGE 2014 Merlot Paso Robles $12 (tasted 7/15/17) 96 PEDRONCELLI 2011 Merlot Bench Vineyards - Dry Creek Valley $16 Aromas of ripe black cherry, raspberry, green strawberry, spice and plum, with light flesh tones and a good dose of oak. This is a spicy and sassy wine, full of character. The oak takes backseat on the palate, letting the fresh fruit flavors shine through, ending in a nice, round tannin, lingering finish. 96 VALLEY LEGEND 2012 Merlot Napa Valley $20 Very pretty nose of cherry, raspberry, plum, blackberry, with whiffs of pepper spice and chalk dust. On the palate this wine has great character! A bit tight at first, it opens beautifully displaying all the fruit and spice promised, adding a touch of vanilla and oak in the long finish. Let open or decant now. 95 HAHN 2011 Merlot Central Coast $14 95 MEADOWCROFT 2011 Merlot Reserve - Napa Valley $28 First whiff is of green veggies and green olives, followed by cherry, raspberry, blackberry and plum, with some spice, vanilla and oak. The palate is smooth and well-balanced, with spicy fruit flavors giving way to vanilla and oak on the long but slightly sticky finish. The green qualities almost blew off overnight, so allow to open for a while before drinking. (tasted 4/24/15) 95 RARE PLATINUM 2018 Merlot North Coast $14 (tasted 4/23/22) 95 THE WINERY SF 2010 Merlot North Coast $25 Nice deep plum, black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and hints of currant, with light earth notes, spice, vanilla and oak. This is a well-balanced wine, with good mouthfeel, spicy fruit and a nice long, slightly sticky finish. 94 BOGLE 2010 Merlot California $10 94 KENNEDY SHAH 2015 Merlot Columbia Valley $20 Pretty nose of cherry, raspberry, red plum and light blackberry supported by the firm presence of vanilla and oak. On the palate this is a smooth, velvety, sexy merlot, with a wonderful, creamy mouthfeel of fruit and vanilla, leading to a long, lingering, round tannin finish. This is a wine for those who want a good deal of vanilla and oak. (tasted 10/14/17) 93 BLISS FAMILY VINEYARDS 2009 Merlot Mendocino $12 Nice plum, black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and hints of currant, with dark coffee/black tea, light earth notes, vanilla and oak. This is a well-balanced wine, with good mouthfeel, spicy fruit and a nice long, slightly sticky finish. 93 CHATOM VINEYARDS 2010 Merlot Calaveras County $23 (tasted 2/3/15) 93 CONTEMPO NV Merlot California $10 92 MCMANIS 2014 Merlot California $10 (tasted 11/28/15) 91 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2014 Merlot Le Sage - Dry Creek Valley $20 From aroma to palate this wine offers a lot of winemaking. Black cherry, black raspberry, plum and light pepper spice are enveloped in vanilla and loads of oak. On the palate this wine is on the thin side and carried by the oak. This wine is definitely for the oak-hounds who want more wood than fruit. (tasted 7/30/18) 91 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2012 Merlot Le Sage - Dry Creek Valley $30 Black cherry, blackberry, plum, dark roated coffee, black leather, earth and oak. At this date this is a tightish, closed wine. It did open up a bit overnight, so either wait another year for this to blossom, or decant it. (tasted 3/28/15) 91 RARE PLATINUM 2017 Merlot North Coast $14 (tasted 5/18/20) 90 BLISS FAMILY VINEYARDS 2010 Merlot Mendocino $12 Slightly dusty fruit aromas of cherry, raspberry, blackberry and plum, with a decent backbone of oak. Straightforward on the palate, well-balanced, and a nice mouthfeel leading to a round-tannin finish. 90 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2012 Merlot California $12 90 HOOK & LADDER 2009 Merlot Estate Bottled - Russian River Valley $24 90 TABLE NO. 7 2011 Winemakers Merlot California $12 Nice nose of blackberry, cherry, red plum, red raspberry, with light herbs and spice, and a good wallop of oak. The palate offers the same, with nice fruit and seconds in a well-balanced body leading to a nice lingering round-tannin finish. A lot of winemaking but at a good price. (tasted 7/14/15)