I've just recently been introduced to the wine world and I got a good recomendation off of here awhile back on a merlot that I tried and absolutley loved, the merlot I bought was a merlot from Shafer, could someone give me the name of another merlot that is just as good if not better. Currently Shafer runs about $40.00 a bottle and im looking for something a little cheaper than that so I can enjoy it more.

Appreciate any feedback I can get, thanks.

You may want to try some merlot wines from Washington State:

Walla Walla Vintners
L'Ecole No 41
Seven Hills
Many more...

W

I completely agree with WINO on this one. I've very recently had the 2001 Walla Walla Vintners Merlot and it was excellet. It was rich, ripe and very velvety. L'Ecole No. 41 is a very consistent producer and, compared to others, their merlot is fantastic for the price. I'd also give Chateau Ste. Michelle Reserve Merlot a shot - the 1999 was awesome (and is still around).

Cheers!

You might want to see if the '01 Rombauer merlot is out. In good vintages, their reds offer a great value. Another great value producer is Vincent Arroyo in Calistoga. He sells very little via retail stores, so you'd have to contact the winery directly. Last I heard, he still had some '01 merlot available.

Falesco Merlot from Italy for about $15.

Should look into couple of entries from Spring Valley in Walla Walla. Uriah is a merlot blend and the Muleskinner is their merlot bottling.

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www.winebid.com
2004 Whirlwind Tour

Should look into couple of entries from Spring Valley in Walla Walla. Uriah is a merlot blend and the Muleskinner is their merlot bottling.

---------------------------
www.winebid.com
2004 Whirlwind Tour

When I started (another century ago) it was always fun to taste over a price range. With Merlot you might enjoy the following:

1. Moueiux 2000 at $6.34 per bottle
2. McManus 2001 at $8.21 per bottle
3. Beringer Howell Mountain Merlot at about $58.00

Do them together--preferably blind--and see what you think

Just had the Chateau St. Michelle Reserve Merlot and it was awesome. Highly recommend it.

Casa Lapostolle Alexandre - Chile $19/btl
Provenance - Napa (Mt Veeder $40/btl)&
Carneros $24/btl
Hall - Napa $24/btl
Mulderbosch - South Africa (Faithful Hound $20/btl - Love the Jack Russell Terrier on the label
Also agree with the Wash St contigent:
Columbia Crest Grand Estate Series $9/btl
Columbia Crest Reserves $23/btl
Gordon Brothers $18/btl

My favorite sub $40 CA Merlot is the $30 2001 Chappellet Merlot -- Awesome stuff; drinks a bit more like a Cab/Meritage than you would expect given that it is 90% Merlot 5% Cab Franc and only 5% Cabernet.

a

"What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields

You may also want to try some of the inexpensive merlot-based wines from Bordeaux, France. Especially in good vintages like 2000, you can get very good wines in the $15 to 20 range that are tasty and complex. Go to a trusted retailer and ask for some recs. for merlot-based bordeaux. They will typically be blended with smaller percentages of cab franc, and/or cab sauv.

Quilceda Creek (didn't make in 2001)
Pride
Reininger
Januik
Luna

Soooo, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

Last trip through Napa and Sonoma enjoyed the 2001 Provenance Mt. Veeder Paras Vineyard, 2001 Beringer Leaning Oak Napa Valley, Swanson, and A. Rafanelli. Hartwell, Swanson Salon Selection and Beringer Howell Mountain were outstanding but a bit pricey.
aloha

3 I like:

1 - Owen Roe DuBrul Vineyard
2 - Chateau St. Michelle Reserve
3 - Stags Leap Winery

Agree with BRR and Dave Mci on this, WA all the way - best bargain Merlot around:

L'Ecole 41, Januik, Reininger... also if you like the Januik, try Novelty Hills (Mike Januik is the consulting wine maker for this one also and he used to be "the guy" at Ch. Ste. Michelle).

The 2002 Craneford Merlot from Australia which received a RP95 is AWESOME stuff if you can find it. $30ish retail, very limited and worthy of RP's highest rated merlot. Tons of big fruit and thickness. Let it open up for an hour or so. YUM YUM>

Lee J. Gerhart

WS suggests over 30 Merlots with 90+ points under $40
http://tinyurl.com/6wpb6

Personally I quite like Raymond Merlot.
The Pride 2002 Merlot is fantastic, but sadly it's $52.

Another good WA merlot that I haven't seen mentioned yet:

Northstar

Napa Cellars Oakville. 2001 Merlot blended with a small amount of Cabernet. Great everyday drinker
$20.00

01 Whitehall Lane Merlot - $22
99 Sebastianni Sonoma - $11
01 Provenence Carneros - $22
01 Groth - $25
01 Rutherford Hill - $18

Contact Stan at grapetray.com if interested..

GKM

ditto iheidt!

Two others I've not seen mentioned but are consistently very good to outstanding are:

'97 Neyers
'97 Joseph Phelps

Interesting how much of this I've seen around and it's in the sub-$30 range. Both are really chocolatey-plummy wines that are showing quite well right now.

"Letters are like wine; if they are sound they ripen with keeping. A man should lay down letters as he does a cellar of wine." - Samuel Butler

i really like the pine ridge crimson creek 2000 $21
or delle (spelling) D2