Merlot Wine

jamessuckling.com, 97 points: Blackberries, blueberries, forest floor and hints of Spanish cedar. Full-bodied and tight with firm and silky tannins and long and beautiful focus. Goes on for minutes. Terrific wine. Drink or hold.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: I loved the 2014 Pedestal Merlot and it’s 81% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. It offers a downright voluptuous and incredibly sexy style in its ripe blackcurrants, toasted spice, chocolate...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Another sensational Merlot is the 2014 Merlot Stoneridge Vineyard, which also comes from the Wahluke Slope AVA in the middle of the state. This is a warm (hot) and dry terroir that consists of sandy loam and gravelly...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: The polish and fine texture to this 2014 is impressive with blueberry, dark chocolate and light walnut aromas and flavors. Medium body, integrated tannins and a long, refined finish. Serious sense for the vintage. Better...

jamessuckling.com, 90 points: Soft and easy merlot with green olive, plum and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.

Wine Enthusiast, 93 points: Cellar Selection. Tart black cherry meets plum, strawberry and clove, while softened tannins belie the wine's overall density and sense of generosity. A smoky waft of cigar amplifies the power and sinewy nature of the...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: The violets and blackberries show wonderfully on the nose here, yet this remains subtle and complete with hints of walnuts. Full body, ultra-fine and firm tannins and a beautiful fruit and mineral undertone. Tight and...

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 93 points: Dark ruby-red. Inviting dark perfume of cassis, blackberry and violet. Seriously concentrated, intense and sharply delineated, showing captivating floral lift to its very deep dark berry and licorice flavors. Still a bit...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: Although this winery has been around since 1944, I am unfamiliar with its wines. Packaged in an interesting bottle with a label sporting green ink, this 2012 Merlot is made in an explosively rich, blockbuster style. Its...

Wine Enthusiast, 93 points: Cellar Selection. Tart black cherry meets plum, strawberry and clove, while softened tannins belie the wine's overall density and sense of generosity. A smoky waft of cigar amplifies the power and sinewy nature of the...

jamessuckling.com, 100 points: This is an extraordinary merlot with such purity and focus. Flowers such as violets and hints of orange peel. It is full-bodied yet incredibly energetic and structured. The finish goes on for minutes. Seamless texture...

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 92 points: Shafer's 2013 Merlot is wonderfully fresh, brisk and nuanced. Sweet red cherry, plum, mint and expressive spice notes are all pushed forward. This open-knit, fleshy Merlot should drink well for the next handful of years.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: As for the 2013 Merlot Reserve Mailbox Vineyard, this is 95% estate Merlot and 5% estate Cabernet Franc. This shows beautiful fruit, medium to full body, more layers of concentration and interest than the basic Merlot...

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 97 points: The 2013 La Ricolma is another superb wine from San Giusto. For years, Luca Martini has worked to prune his vines so that the Merlot would ripen late, in October, taking significant risks along the way to do so. For the...