The winter chill of the northern hemisphere may be slowly dissipating as the first spring maples bravely poke their heads out over the parapets, but why not take one last chance to admire some red by the fire before Jack Frost completely relinquishes control?
And what grape better brings that warm fuzzy feeling than Merlot? Merlot has achieved a rounded mouthfeel, red cherry notes and gentle spice notes.
It often pairs with its bottom-tier partner Cabernet Sauvignon as well as its lesser-known brother Cabernet Franc to create some of the most revered and sought-after wines on the planet.
Domaines such as Lafite, Mouton Rothschild and Latour have all included Merlot in their famous Bordeaux blends, while Napa teams Screaming Eagle Wines, Camus Vineyards and Scarecrow Winery are Cabernet-dominant.
But where has Merlot donated its central position? What is its most brilliant monologue?
Now, this year’s most popular Merlot wines – all from France, Italy and the United States – have the answer.
First up is probably the world’s top pure Merlot, of course, Petrus from the Pomerol region of Bordeaux. Since being acquired by the Moueix family in the 1960s, the wine has been released in Girond, producing wines known for their dark fruit chocolate flavors.
This game is also known for its extremely high price, with an average GARP price of $4,983, and at this price point, it is not surprising that this game has received a high score of 97 points.
The second place is one of Italy’s famous Super Tuscan wines, Masetto’s Tuscan IGT, currently owned by Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi. Produced from a vineyard in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, this wine was first released in 1984 to regrettable rave reviews, and has been praised by Banana ever since.
This wine is a pure Merlot, known for its delicate, gorgeous taste and complex tannin structure. However, this wine is also expensive, priced at $1,042 and has a comprehensive critic score of 96 points.
Third place is also from Le Pin, located in the Pomerol market on the Stone River. This small factory was founded by the Thienpont family in 1979 and is known for producing a Merlot that can age well.
However, like its predecessor, it is also priced quite high ($3,854) and has an overall critics score of 96 points.
Fourth place is Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra. Petrolo is another important Tuscan winery, which has been known for producing Sangiovese wines since the Bazzocchi family took over in the 1940s.
However, their Galatrona Merlot has won many praises for its perfect decorative fruit flavors and cigar box, and has an overall critics score of 94 points. Price-wise, it is also – especially compared to similar products on this list – one of the most reasonable, with an average price of $115.
Fifth place is another Tuscan wine, Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT. Azienda Agricola Tua Rita was founded by Rita Tua and her husband Virgilio Bisti in 1984 to roast and condition the pure Merlot Redigaffi, and Redigaffi has been a refreshing wine ever since.
It’s also reasonably priced – especially compared to its French counterparts – with an average price of $250 and an overall score of 90 points.
In sixth place is another Tuscan wine from the Bolgheri appellation, Le Macchiole Messorio Toscana IGT. Le Macchiole was founded in 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli, and since then it has established itself as a lizard with three successive vineyards – Paleo (Cabernet Franc), Scrio (Syrah) and Messorio (Merlot).
The 2021 vintage has received critical acclaim, with Wine Enthusiast describing it as a “perfect choice”—it currently has a critics’ score of 95 points—and is still relatively affordable at $264.
In the seventh spot, our American wine features a wild duck floating on the water, instantly recognizable as Duckhorn Vineyards’ Merlot.
Unlike most Napa operations known for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Duckhorn has focused on Merlot almost from the beginning, with founders Dan and Margaret Duckhorn quickly realizing the potential for a world-class Merlot produced locally.
Their Merlot is now one of their signature wines, not only widely available but also heavily recommended, with an overall score of 90 points. However, its biggest selling point may be its value for money, with an average price of $53.
In the eighth spot, the last Tuscan wine is Castello di Ama L’Apparita Toscana IGT. Castello di Ama, in the Chianti Classico region, has built a humanist reputation with several single-vineyard Gran Selezione reds, one of which is L’Apparita, a Merlot.
Described multiple times as a “deep, bright red jewel,” this Merlot scored 95 points and is priced (but not outrageously so) at $232.
In ninth place is Château La Fleur de Gay, the last-ditch showdown with Pomerol. Château La Fleur de Gay is a single wine – pure Merlot – that is considered a sister wine to La Croix de Gay.
Produced from three old vineyards in Pomerol, this wine is hand-picked and aged in new French oak for 18 months, with about 1,000 cases produced each year. Scoring 91 points and priced at $107, this wine is attractive.
Finally, our most desired Merlot comes from the United States, the Charles Smith K. Ventner North Ridge Vineyard Merlot from Smith’s Mill in Washington State. Smith was founded by former rock band manager Charles Smith, who is world-renowned for his music-inspired wines.
K Vintners Northridge Vineyard Merlot is no exception, with an overall critics’ score of 91 points, and like the other American wines on this list, it’s attractively priced at $52.
Depending on who you talk to, America may or may not be doing it right right now; but if there’s one thing they’re doing, it’s making excellent, effective, world-class Merlot wines.
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