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Merlot to go

By Darryl Beeson

Merlot took some blows from the movie "Sideways." As in the film, there are certain wine snobs that look down upon this juicy grape. Give these a try for a more accurate overview.

Bella Sera Merlot, Venezie 2003
Price $9
Rating 86
The aromas of soft plum are followed by flavors of gentle plum and cherry, simple and enjoyable. Serve this soft, affordable red wine with pizza or barbecue, or better yet, simply with friends.

Bridge Lane Merlot, North Fork 2002
Price $15.99
Rating 89
The nose is packed with soft, ripe plum. The sip is like velvet with plum, mocha and interesting mineral hints. The winery suggests pairing this velvety red with tapas or barbeque.

Chateau St. Jean Merlot, Sonoma County 2002
Price $14
Rating 89
The nose is full of ripe plum. The sip is bright with balanced ripe plum, soft elements of oak, mint and mineral.

Chumeia Vineyards "Simpson Vineyards" Merlot, California 2002
Price $13
Rating 88
Blackberry and plum lead the way in the nose. There are then flavors of plum, green pepper, soft oak and subtle mineral. Chumeia (pronounced koo-may-a) is based in Paso Robles.

Clos du Val Merlot, Napa 2002
Price $25
Rating 94
The actual blend is 94% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. The sniff showcases powerful ripe fruit like plum and cassis. A lilt of leather is in there as well. There are lean and mature flavors of dark plum and black cherry.

Columbia Winery Merlot, Columbia Valley 2003
Price $14.99
Rating 91
The exact blend is 80% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 5% Sangiovese.
The nose is complex with ripe plum and eucalyptus. The sip is concentrated with plum, red cherry, berry along with hints of herb and cedar. Wine maker and Master of Wine David Lake is a genius.

Dallas Conte Merlot, Rapel Valley 2001
Price $10
Rating 89
Aromas of blackberry and plum are followed by flavors of rich, spicy fruit with earthy complexity in the middle. The wine maker is David O'Leary, a talented Australian.

Echelon Merlot, Central Coast 2002
Price $9.99
Rating 85
There are subtle aromas of spice and plum. The sip is bright and, again, subtle on the fruit and the spice.

Flora Springs Merlot, Napa 2002
Price $24
Rating 89
Along with the Merlot, there is the addition of 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petite Verdot. The nose showcases ripe plum and spice. The sip contains rich, bright plum. The length on the palate is medium.

Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Merlot, California 2003
Price $18
Rating 91
The nose is packed with ripe, rich plum. There are big, toasty aromas of oak. Ponder the nose for a moment before sipping. Then the sip. There are flavors of bright plum and more toasty oak with vanilla.

Franciscan "Oakville Estate" Merlot, Napa Valley 2002
Price $23
Rating 96
"Supple and ripe blackberry, black cherry and hints of toasted oak and vanilla fill the mouth with a full mid-palate and a long, round finish,"  says wine maker Larry Levin.

Gallo Sonoma Merlot, Sonoma County 2002
Price $12
Rating 92
The nose is full of ripe plum and bright mint. The sip is rich with ripe plum, smoky bacon and black cherry. The length is long and complex.

Jackson-Triggs Merlot, Okanagan 2002
Price $14.99
Rating 90
The nose is somber with blackberry and plum. The fruit flavors are dark, but spritzy like. There are minerals, elements of cocoa powder and a bright, crisp finish.

Kenwood Merlot, Sonoma 2002
Price $12
Rating 89
The nose is rich with ripe plum and a hint of mint. The sip is rich with layers of soft, ripe fruit with a raisin/spice hint in the long finish.

Laurier Merlot, Dry Creek Valley 2000
Price $20
Rating 95
Fruit character leads the way with this massive, yes, massive Merlot. The nose explodes with spicy, ripe fruit. The expansive sip is concentrated with more ripe fruit.

Lieb Reserve Merlot, North Fork 2002
Price $25
Rating 91
There are powerful aromas of ripe plum, mocha and resounding mineral and mint. Flavors of raspberry, mocha, chocolate, red cherry and firm mineral in the long, complex length on the palate.

McWilliams Hanwood Estate Merlot, South Eastern Australia 2003
Price $8.99                 
Rating 87
There are some green hints in the otherwise ripe fruit nose. Flavors of plum, blackberry and mocha are in the sip. Samuel McWilliams planted the family's first vineyard in 1877.

Red Bicyclette Merlot, France 2004
Price $8.99     
Rating 88
The nose is subtle with ripe plum and dust. The sip is concentrated with bright red fruit. The length is good on the palate. There are soft, herbacious notes in the finish.

Merriam Vineyards "Windacre" Merlot, Russian River 2001
Price $35        
Rating 79
Very light in fruit or substance. Perhaps this climate is too cool for growing Merlot. Serve with soft, delicate food selections and this wine could work.

Napa Cellars Merlot, Napa Valley 2002
Price $25
Rating 92
The nose has a lilt of spice and dark fruit. The sip offers dusty, ripe plum, a myriad of dark fruit and delicate oak nuances. The length is long, rich and complex.

Napa Ridge Merlot, Napa 2003
Price $12                    
Rating 89
The aromas feature ripe, red fruit, plum and soft spice. The sip explodes with fruit forward concentration. Plum, black cherry and a hint of clove follow a long pathway within the complex and interesting length.

Pine Ridge "Crimson Creek" Merlot, Napa 2001
Price $27
Rating 93
The nose exudes coolness with menthold, ripe plum and dark fruit through out. The sip enters with slightly bitter mocha, bright, ripe plum, dark fruit, hot mint and resounding mineral in the long finish.

Raymond "Reserve" Merlot, Napa Valley 2002
Price $24                    
Rating 96
The nose is concentrated with rich plum, spice and gentle oak. The sip is the same, though ten-times more powerful. The sip is chewy and luscious. The addition of 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Zinfandel rounds out the concentrated mix.

Regusci Estate Merlot, Stags Leap 2002
Price $40
Rating 90
The nose has tart plum and dusty dark fruit. The sip enters with mint, then mint, plum and softer red fruit. Terrill L. Grigsby, a pioneer who came to California 1850, built the Grigsby-Occidental Winery in 1878.

Santa Rita "120" Merlot, Rapel Valley 2003
Price $6          
Rating 87
The nose has some dried fruit flavors like prune or raisin. The sip is rich and full of ripe fruit such as plum. The medium length offers some complexities. This is a great red wine for the money.

Sebastiani Merlot, Alexander Valley 2003
Price $24
Rating 94
"The wine is dark crimson in color," says winemaker Mark Lyon, who happens to own the vineyard from which the grapes are sourced. Flavors of black cherry, cassis, malt, subtle oak, cedar and mocha all meld within the sip.

Toasted Head Merlot Merlot, California 2002
Price $17                    
Rating 89
The nose shows mulberry, plum and soft menthol. The sip is rich with ripe plum and delicate mint with a nuance of oak, well in balance. Serve this red with gourmet meat loaf, seared flank steak or with grilled chicke with fresh herbs.

Trefethen Merlot, Napa 2001
Price $28
Rating 93
The nose is big with rich, ripe fruit. Aromas of plum, brown spice, and more red fruit are in the nose. The sip is big with velvety ripe fruit, plum, mocha, brown spice and more lean red fruit in the long length.

Twomey Merlot, Napa 2001
Price $60
Rating 95
The nose is dusty with dark fruit, complex and somber. Aromas of raspberry and other red fruit start to appear. The sip is chewy with blackberry nougat, menthol, freshly-tilled black earth, plum, all of this wrapped within velvety, but assertive, tannins. The long length on the palate ends with soft mocha and raspberry.

Twomey Merlot, Napa 2000
Price $66
Rating 94
Aromas of soft black fruit and dustiness lead in the nose. The sip showcases luscious blackberry, ripe plum, mocha, mint and lilting mineral throughout the long finish.

XSV Merlot, Columbia Valley 2002
Price $20                    
Rating 94
The nose is huge with ripe, black fruit, then earth, and then cocoa dust. The sip leads with intersting cola aspects, licorish, anise, blackberry, all within complex, make that incredible, length.

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Darryl Beeson travels the world looking for great wine finds. Says writern Roy Blount, Jr., "Wine is tough, but I know Darryl can do it."

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