772 | Wine | Merlot, $20 to $50

"With firm tannins and exceptional length, this is a lovely and age-worthy wine that shows how much Merlot can excel in a cooler growing season. The aromas are rich and inviting with layers of amaretto, sweet spice and cedar. On the palate, lush flavors of plum, blackberry and cherry dominate, with the tannins adding structure and depth."

"The 2008 Columbia Valley Merlot offers up aromas of balsam wood, spice box, tobacco, violets, cassis, and blackberry. Savory on the palate, if slightly austere, another 1-2 years of bottle should fill the wine out."

"This is a velvety wine with a complex nose of fresh-picked blackberries, black tea, cedar, red cherry and licorice. A fleshy and generous mouthfeel is followed by notes of bittersweet cinnamon, mocha and tobacco. This wine has full, generous tannins that coat the palate, impressive length and lasting acidity."

"This classic Merlot opens with vibrant aromas of cherry, red plum, pomegranate, cardamom and forest floor. The aromas carry over onto the palate and meld with additional notes of milk chocolate, vanilla and dark spice. The tannins are supple yet have good grip, suggesting that this Merlot be served with hearty dishes such as rack of lamb, herbstuffed turkey or roasted duck in a cherry sauce."

"A delicious entry-level wine, the 2010 Merlot is rich, boisterous and loaded with fruit. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and spices all make an appearance in this flashy, exuberant red. The vibrancy of the vintage works to balance some of the wine’s natural overtness. Clean, saline notes add an attractive briskness to the finish. This is a gorgeous wine that makes a compelling case for Merlot-based wines in Napa Valley."

"The Carneros region with its climate and clay soils allows us to produce a Merlot which is true to the varietal’s characteristics. The longer growing season allows the fruit to reach maturity slowly, giving us fruit which is soft and elegant, yet rich and full flavored."