November 7th is International Merlot Day. Obviously, it’s the perfect day to drink some Merlot. We have some perfect options for you to imbibe. This is what we sampled leading up to International Merlot Day. Many of these will make great sippers all year round and for your holiday dining selections.
Press samples provided for some of the brands below. As always, all opinions are our own.
2015 Pedroncelli Merlot Bench Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Enticing aromas of strawberry, vanilla, and cinnamon fill your glass while a palate black cherry, plum, and black pepper fill your mouth with lush fruit goodness and toasty oak. The medium-bodied wine round out with tannins to follow through to a velvety finish. A beautifully balanced wine. ($18 MSRP)
2014 Cannonball Merlot Sonoma County
2014 Cannonball Merlot Sonoma CountyLight spice and toasty oak mixed with huckleberries on the nose are a delightful aroma for this wine. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine is lush with flavors of cherry, chocolate, and baking spices with a balanced finish. It pairs well with duck, red meat, and past with rich sauces. ($16 MSRP)
2014 Rombauer Merlot Napa Valley
Fresh blackberries, blueberries, and boysenberries on the nose of this wine are delightful lush dark berry aromas mixed with notes of vanilla. This medium-bodied wine is lush with dark fruit flavors of blueberries, figs, and plums with great depth and balance. Pair this wine with pork chops, oven-roasted chicken, or lamb. ($45 MSRP)
2013 Peju Merlot Napa Valley
2013 Peju Merlot Napa ValleyBeautiful aromas of dark berries and plum with a hint of cedar. The palate has ripe red berries like cherry, raspberry, and currants and notes of cocoa and spice on the finish. This isn’t your classic Merlot. ($38 MSRP)
2015 Novelty Hill Merlot Columbia Valley
Wild cherry and dark chocolate aromas pop before intense notes of raspberry and cherry on the palate followed by a finish of cocoa on this medium-bodied beauty with a long finish. ($23 MSRP)
2014 Decoy Merlot Sonoma County
Lush notes of blackberry, black cherry, and black currants with hints of sweet spice, cocoa, and leather. On the palate, this wine has balanced acidity with refined tannins with the same aromatic fruits carry the wine to a fruitful and concentrated finish. ($25 MSRP)
2014 Januik Merlot Columbia Valley
Cherry, currant, and plum notes on the nose open to black cherry, black currants, and blackberry on the palate with a touch of chocolate. This medium-bodied wine is full of texture with a long finish. ($25 MSRP)
2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley
2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Napa ValleyIntense aromas of cherry, fig, and plum on the nose with hints of leather and cedar. On the palate, it is lush with bright acidity with raspberry and black cherry and hints of coffee and chocolate that carry through on the long finish. ($54 MSRP)
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The 2014 Rombauer sounds like something I should hunt down in Colorado.
DUCKHORN VINEYARDS Merlot is one of my favorite wines. It just has the most perfect taste for a Merlot and worth the money for a nice wine.