Merlot wine bottle from Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, 2014 vintage.

2014 La Jota Merlot Howell Mountain

with No Comment $80-$90Howell MountainKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

La Jota

Merlot 2014
Howell Mountain

Merlot wine bottle from Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, 2014 vintage.

The 2014 La Jota Howell Mountain Merlot arrives with an authority that immediately distinguishes it. Born at high elevation, it forgoes plushness in favor of precision and generosity in favor of structure, delivering a wine that is both powerful and exacting. This is Merlot with genuine mountain backbone, shaped by volcanic soils, cool nights, and a long growing season that prizes depth, tension, and longevity.

La Jota’s roots run deep on this mountain. Founded in 1898 by Frederick Hess, the estate has endured cycles of abandonment and renewal, yet its commitment to Howell Mountain has never wavered. Today, under the direction of Chris Carpenter, that legacy is honed with precision. His approach is measured and site-driven, allowing the character of these historic vineyards to emerge fully.

At twelve years of age, the 2014 demonstrates precisely why Howell Mountain wines command such respect for their longevity. The structure remains firm, but the edges have softened, revealing a more expressive, layered profile. A natural freshness keeps the wine vibrant and lifted. It is a compelling reminder that wines from this elevation are built not merely to endure, but to evolve.

La Jota
Merlot 2014
Howell Mountain
Retails at: $100

Your Price: $85

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“Blended with 10% Petit Verdot, this age-worthy beauty is impressively oaked and tannic in its youth, with a concentration of densely packed red and black currants. Coconut shavings and vanilla appear from the background alongside black pepper and cinnamon. This should drink best from 2024–2034.”

94 Points, Cellar Selection

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Columbia ValleyKevin VogtMerlotUSAWashington State

Pedestal

Merlot 2021
Columbia Valley

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

Washington State has proven, time and again, that Merlot thrives here, but Pedestal captures the variety at a particularly high register. The 2021 release reflects an approach centered on site expression, precision farming, and patient élevage, yielding a wine that delivers depth and polish. It is a Merlot built to command attention rather than chase it.

Pedestal is a product of the Long Shadows philosophy: pairing world-class vineyard sources with a singular, disciplined vision. In 2021, that vision comes into focus through a carefully assembled blend of Columbia Valley Merlot drawn from vineyards prized for consistency and character. The result is a wine that feels deliberately shaped to emphasize clarity, depth, and longevity.

Guiding the final expression is Michel Rolland, whose influence appears not through excess, but through control. Trained in Bordeaux and refined through decades of working with Merlot at the highest level, Rolland brings a philosophy rooted in balance, texture, and age-worthiness. The 2021 Pedestal reflects that sensibility at every turn: expressive, composed, and built to evolve with understated confidence.

Pedestal
Merlot 2021
Columbia Valley
Retails at: $75

Your Price: $68

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“A blend put together by the incredibly talented Michel Rolland, the 2021 Merlot Pedestal is based on 80% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot that spent 22 months in 75% new French oak. Its deep plum/purple hue is followed by a brilliant, full-bodied, unctuous beauty that has loads of darker currant and black cherry fruits, some chocolate and leafy herbs notes, velvety tannins, and a layered mouthfeel that just begs to be drunk. It’s easily one of the finest expressions of Merlot in the state, and it would stand up just fine to some of the top Merlot releases from France and Napa. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years.”

96 Points

2022 Claudio Family Cellars Merlot Mt. Veeder

2022 Claudio Family Cellars Merlot Mt. Veeder

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMerlotMt VeederNapaUSA

Claudio Family Cellars

Merlot 2022
Mt. Veeder

2022 Claudio Family Cellars Merlot Mt. Veeder

Claudio Family Cellars’ 2022 Merlot captures the vivid essence of mountain viticulture, blending intensity and grace into a wine of striking harmony. Grown on the rugged slopes of Mount Veeder, it reveals Merlot’s potential for depth and distinction when shaped by such untamed terroir. Winemaker Chris Jones has deftly crafted a wine that echoes the mountain’s raw energy while delivering a refined vibrancy that distinguishes it from the ordinary.

Jones’ journey to this creation is as compelling as the wine itself. Beginning as a home winemaker in Minnesota, his curiosity and drive carried him to Napa and Sonoma. There, he refined his craft through an internship at Sojourn Cellars before founding Claudio Family Cellars. His 2022 Mount Veeder Merlot reflects this arc—bold yet poised, it channels the mountain’s strength with clarity and elegance.

Mount Veeder, a scarce source of Napa’s output at under two percent, yields wines of rare concentration from its steep inclines and ancient, mineral-rich soils. The 2022 Merlot embodies this duality—rich yet precise, with layers of black cherry, violet, and wild sage unfolding alongside dark fruit and earthy nuance, culminating in a smooth, lingering finish. It’s a vivid example of Merlot’s ability to flourish in the high, wild reaches of the mountains.

Claudio Family Cellars
Merlot 2022
Mt. Veeder
Retails at: $40

Your Price: $29.99

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“The Claudio Family Cellars 2022 Merlot from Mt Veeder opens with fresh aromas of lavender, subtle herbal notes, cherry, raspberry, cloves, white pepper, and a graphite minerality. On the palate, the wine has a plush texture balanced with mountain fruit characteristics and flavors of red plum, vanilla, baking spices, and mocha. Mt Veeder is one of Napa Valley’s cooler growing environments, giving this wine elegance but with an excellent structure from this mountainside location.”

94 Points

2019 Pass Wines Merlot Coombsville Napa Valley

2019 Pass Wines Merlot Coombsville Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCoombsvilleKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

Pass Wines

Merlot 2019
Coombsville, Napa Valley

2019 Pass Wines Merlot Coombsville Napa Valley

With a mere 96 cases produced, the 2019 Pass Wines Coombsville Merlot epitomizes the boutique spirit of Napa Valley. Each bottle reflects the meticulous craft of Ryan Pass, a UC Davis graduate who began his journey at Farella Vineyards in 2015. Under the mentorship of esteemed vintner Tom Farella, Ryan’s promotion to Winemaker in 2018 marked a pivotal moment in his career, where he gained invaluable insight from a master of the trade. His wines carry the legacy of that tutelage, emphasizing precision, artistry, and passion.

Vineyard partnerships are central to Ryan’s approach, where the terroir becomes the canvas for his creativity. He sourced from two distinct Coombsville vineyards for this Merlot, carefully selected to harmonize minerality, fruit, and spice. The result is a wine of profound elegance and sophistication, gently aged in neutral oak to retain its vibrant freshness.

This Merlot embodies not just the essence of Coombsville but also Ryan’s commitment to producing wines deeply connected to land and craft.

Pass Wines
Merlot 2019
Coombsville, Napa Valley
Retails at: $36

Your Price: $29.99

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“The Pass Wines 2019 Coombsville Merlot begins with a cool-climate-driven fruit characteristic with red and black cherries and plums, with the AVA’s signature volcanic minerality, resembling graphite, followed with notes of savory spice and cloves. On the palate, the wine has a dusty cocoa power component, mocha, and blackberries, with underlying spice and wet stones after a summer rain. This wine has brilliant acidity that intricately balances the fruit, spice, and mineral notes with a long, pleasant finish.”

96 Points

2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley

2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

MAROON

RESERVE MERLOT
SINGLE VINEYARD
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley
One of the leading factors in Maroon Winery’s success is its ability to identify properties capable of producing world-class grapes. They chose the historic Nichelini property for their Reserve Merlot. Nichelini is the oldest family-owned winery in Napa Valley and is not far from Kuleto Estate, Chappellet, Continuum, and Gandona. The wine perfectly balances power and elegance, and at our price, I recommend loading up. 
 
Nichelini’s vineyard sits at around 1,000′ in elevation, and the temperatures there are cooler than the Valley floor, providing ideal conditions for Merlot grapes to retain their natural acidity. Paul Maroon chose this site because he believed the vineyard’s unique climate was similar to Bordeaux.
 
This stunning Merlot emerges from one of Napa Valley’s top vintages, which the Wine Spectator describes as producing “Small crop… with deep dark fruit and spice flavors.” If you’re looking for a powerful yet elegant Merlot that you probably won’t find in your neighbor’s cellar, this is it. There were just 130 cases produced.
 
MAROON
RESERVE MERLOT
SINGLE VINEYARD
2015 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“Smooth, supple and elegant, this beautiful Merlot from Maroon has aromas of cassis, cherry pie, sage, violets, glove leather, spearmint, and sweet vanilla spice. On the palate, a seamless blend of black plums, crushed cherries, and fresh herbs lead to a balanced and lush finish with bright cherries right at the end.”
92 Points
 
“This delightful Merlot has aromas of fully ripened black cherry and plum intermingled with an appealing ray of slight spice and vanilla. The texture of the wine is very smooth from front to finish with a well-rounded texture on the midpalate. The tannins evolve and soften, resulting in a long, soft finale.”
130 cases produced
2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet FrancKevin VogtMerlotNapaProprietary RedUSA

LATERAL 

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa ValleyLateral is a wine inspired by the Bordeaux region of St. Emilion and influenced by the interplay and tension created between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Proprietor Marty Mathis, whom you might recognize from his super high-scoring Kathryn Kennedy wines, decided to showcase how each of these iconic grapes can harmonize to compliment yet contrast each other way that’s different from other Bordeaux style blends, and the results simply have to be tasted.  

 
Lateral’s 2016 vintage slants towards cooler-climate, expressive vineyards, primarily located in the Southern portion of Napa Valley. On the palate, it’s a highly detailed wine with spiced red fruits, wild mint, rock minerals, rose and cocoa dusted plum. 
 
A stunning example of just how inspiring Right Bank influenced blends from Napa Valley can be, Marty loves to showcase the lush textures and richness of Merlot entirely opposing the aromatic qualities and structure of Cabernet Franc.  At under $40, you might grab a case quickly, before this deal goes sideways.
 
LATERAL 
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
 
“Very deep dark royal purple color. Classic Bordeaux style nose with tobacco leaf herb notes and dark brooding black berry aromas plus hints of cherry cream candies. Ideal amounts of subtle creamy oak barrel influences. Soft ripe plums, vanilla cream and loamy earth notes are complex and very inviting. Fresh but rich in the mouth (like so many wines of 2016), lithe and elegant mouth-feel leads to cranberry, minerals and dark cocoa flavors. Tannins are still youthful and acid balance portends well for cellar development; This is a bigger style of LATERAL to be en- joyed now and over a longer period of years”  67% Merlot | Cabernet Franc 33%
2015 Il Borro Toscana Tuscany, Italy

2015 Il Borro Toscana Tuscany, Italy

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonItalyKevin VogtMerlotTuscany

IL BORRO

2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY 

2015 Il Borro Toscana Tuscany, Italy

The Ferragamo’s are icons in the fashion industry with a heritage of creativity and utmost quality. They’ve carried those same hallmarks that brought them success in their luxury goods company over to wine, and the results speak for themselves. Their 2015 Il Borro is one of the highest-scoring Tuscan blends under $100, having earned high 90s scores from both James Suckling and Robert Parker. This wine is one of the least expensive ways to enjoy a piece of the Ferragamo lifestyle.
 
Moving another step closer to their goal of producing the best Bordeaux like blend outside of Bordeaux, and with a monster 97 Point score, Salvatore Ferragamo’s Il Borro comes from their family estate in Tuscany, and like their clothing line, it’s powerfully bold, yet gorgeously elegant and remarkably detailed. 
 
The 2015 laces together 50% Merlot, dressed with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, then precisely threaded with other varietals. After meticulously hand sorting each grape, the wine is sent gravity flow into the tank where the wine team removes 10-20% of the juice to increase concentration.
 
IL BORRO
2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $59.99
Click to Order
 
 
 
“This is the best Il Borro to date with fantastic blackberry, blueberry and sandalwood aromas that follow through to a full body with masses of fruit. Yet, it remains bright and linear down the center palate. A rich and toned wine. 50 per cent merlot, 35 per cent cabernet and 15 per cent syrah…”  97 Points
 
 
“This robust Tuscan blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah is Il Borro’s flagship wine. The 2015 Il Borro is an important and thickly enriched expression that shows ample power and muscle but remains elegantly modulated and contoured at the same time. The bouquet opens to dark fruit, blackberry, prune, spice, leather and tar. In the mouth, this wine is richly textured, velvety and concentrated, and it delivers balanced tannins and acidity. Il Borro has beautifully captured the warmth and exuberance of the terrific 2015 vintage.” 96 Points
2016 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

2016 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

DUCKHORN  2016 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot

2016 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY

 
Duckhorn Vineyards unquestionably dominates the category of California Merlot, and they’ve done so for the last 40 years.  It’s their unwavering consistency that’s made them a mainstay in our shop, and that same level of dependability and value that thrusts them into the forefront on wine lists and in shops across the country.  I can think of no other wine brand that defines iconic for a varietal than Duckhorn does for Merlot. The newly released 2016 vintage is complemented with 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s even bigger, richer and more full-bodied than the previous couple of vintages.  Our panel was quite literally stunned by the even higher quality, and we can’t wait to start pouring this by the glass in Yountville.
 
A classic expression of Napa Valley Merlot, the 2016 offers a seamless combination of concentrated fruit, wrapped in a rich, supple elegance.  The bouquet has terrific intensity, offering detailed black cherries, freshly picked blackberries, black tea and wild rose.  Held in oak barrels for 15 months the 2016 is powerful and really easy to love…
 
 
DUCKHORN
2016 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $56/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl

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YOU SAVE 20%
 
Tasting Notes: “The 2016 growing season yielded a beautifully complex expression of Napa Valley Merlot, with inviting aromas of fresh black raspberry, vanilla, tea leaves, pie crust and licorice. On the palate, luxurious red-fruit flavors of strawberry, plum, Bing cherry and loganberry are supported by silky tannins and a bright, mouthwatering acidity that carries the wine to a lingering finish, with hints of maple, cedar and sweet spice.”
 
Customers that enjoy Duckhorn Napa Merlot may also enjoy these two terrific wines from Duckhorn Wine Co… 
2015 Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot
DUCKHORN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $78.00/btl
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Beginning with a gorgeous nose of boysenberry, cherry, strawberry, cedar, sage and licorice, this lush and lively Cabernet captures the rich diversity of Napa Valley. On the palate, the alluring fruit flavors are underscored by bright acidity, firm polished tannins and notes of fig, licorice and cinnamon that linger on the well-structured finish.“
DUCKHORN
2016 THREE PALMS
NAPA VALLEY MERLOT
Retails at: $110.00/btl
 
Your Price: $99.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Once again, the revered Three Palms Vineyard has yielded a benchmark expression of New World Merlot, with a complex, age-worthy structure, silken tannins, and radiant fruit. On the nose, aromas of huckleberry, plum, Bing cherry, cinnamon and rose petals are underscored by hints of cocoa and sweet French oak. As it evolves in the glass, flavors of cardamom, cranberry, blueberry and figs are revealed, as well as elements of earthy minerality that add drama to the long, complex finish.”

Inventory Reduction ~ All Red Other Than Cabs & Cab Blends

with No Comment BaroloBordeauxBrunelloCarménèreChiantiGrenacheMalbecMeritageMerlotNebbioloOld Vine ZinfandelPetite SirahPinot NoirRed BurgandySyrahZinfandel
 
We have an absolutely spectacular array of reds that don’t fit into the Cabernet realm, from plush and juicy Merlots to rich and spicy Syrahs, firm and gripping Barolo to silky and complex red Burgundies and everything in between. Helping to clear room for next year’s new releases, our 2018 Inventory Reduction is the biggest ever. 
 
With thousands of bottles of wine that have to move, this is the last of 3 days of dramatic discounts, making this a wonderful opportunity to try out some new amazing wines and re-stock your cellar for 2019. 
 
Each day we’ve focused on a specific area of the warehouse, and today is all the reds of the world that don’t include Cabernet and Cab blends…  
 
Offer valid through 12-31-18 at 12:00PM PST and only while supplies last.
 
2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot

2014 Barlow Calistoga Merlot

with No Comment $30-$40CalistogaKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

BARLOW

2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA

2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot
Many of California’s best Merlots come from the sleepy town of Calistoga, on the Northern-most end of Napa Valley.  The area is distinguished by volcanic soils and the largest diurnal temperature variation in Napa Valley.  Daytime highs and night time lows span up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and while the hot daytime temperatures allow the grapes to develop deep and compelling flavors, the cool nights help to maintain acidity and structure.  With all of the contributing factors working in unison, this area has proven that it can produce some of the best Merlot in California… Just look at last year’s #1 wine in the Wine Spectator.  Interestingly, Duckhorn’s iconic 3 Palms Vineyard is just a short distance from Barlow’s Estate Vineyard and I believe the micro-climate on the South-Eastern edge of Calistoga where both of these Merlots originate is perfectly suited to produce some of Napa’s best Merlot.
 
Barlow’s Estate Vineyard is farmed by father and son team and you can literally taste the care that goes into each bottle.  They produce just over 300 cases of their Merlot and at $35/btl the level of quality is literally shocking when you taste it.  The 2014 was housed for 22 months in oak and has blossomed for 2 years in the bottle.  You simply have to try this…  
 
BARLOW
2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl
 
Winery Notes: “The 2014 Barlow Merlot has a deep, concentrated violet-purple color with aromas of rich raspberry, ripe red cherry with an essence of sweet French vanilla. The palate is highly concentrated with deep and generous flavors of currants, blueberries and Bing cherries. The tannins are soft and luxurious and are a great counterpart to the sweet flavors of toasty oak.” 
308 Cases Produced 
 
Customers who enjoy Barlow’s Calistoga Merlot, may also enjoy these two terrific Merlots…

 

2015 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 2014 Frostwatch Bennett Valley Merlot
DUCKHORN
2015 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $56/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 

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The consensus in the wine industry points to Merlot being back and with serious vigor. The varietal took a hit in 2004 with the debut of the movie Sideways which besmirched Merlot causing US Merlot sales to crater. A study by Vineyard Financial Associates estimates that it cost Merlot farmers over 400M in lost revenue in the decade following the movie.  Of course none of that made Duckhorn blink, in fact they’ve been climbing to new heights, and recently went on to become the #1 Wine in the World on the 2017 Wine Spectator Top 100 list with their 2014 Three Palms Merlot.  
FROSTWATCH
2014 MERLOT
BENNETT VALLEY 
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Merlot is scented of red and black plums, dried Mediterranean herbs, vanilla and spice box. Full-bodied in the mouth, it has a relatively tannic backbone dominating the fruit and drying out the finish slightly, but there is a lot of expressive fruit to love and it should reward another 3-5 years in bottle.”  90+ Points