Best Merlot Under $25

Black Box Wines Merlot displays aromas of leathery plums and cinnamon-spiced oak. The palate is smooth, medium weight and aged-textured with sweet red currant flavors. It finishes long and warm with resolved tannins. This Merlot has acidity that allows versatility in pairing with food.

This lush and inviting Sonoma County Merlot displays enticing berry and cassis aromas, underscored by French oak-inspired notes. The layers of luxurious fruit continue on the palate, where lively acidity adds poise and structure, and silky tannins carry the wine to a long, juicy finish. 90 pts - Wine Enthusiast (v.18) 91 pts - James Suckling (v.17)

Our Napa Valley Merlot has expressive aromas of ripe red and black fruit followed by hints of spice. Supple body and medium tannins envelop flavors of berry and cherry which linger on the palate through a long, smooth finish. This wine is truly one of the best values in our lineup! 90 Points James Suckling (2015 Vintage) Varietal Makeup: 83% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot. Aging: 18 Months in French Oak Barrels Vintage Information: The 2016 vintage was what some might call a “typical” Napa Valley vintage, with adequate and well-timed rain prior to and during the early growing season. The January rains left good moisture in the soil for the vines to begin the growing season with early bud-break; canopy growth was rapid and even. Additional rainfall in March and April supported the later vine growth as well. It was a warm but moderate summer and fog mitigated the heat extremes, causing fewer heat spikes, less dehydration and overall good uniform growth. Learn more at www.charleskrug.com or visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/CharlesKrugWinery

FLAVORS & AROMAS: Ripe bing cherries, blueberry, sage and toast oak notes are complimented by hints of vanilla lingering on a long finish.

San Simeon Merlot expresses rich flavors of blackberry and cassis. Aromas of black fruit greet the nose, while barrel-aging contributes nuances of brown sugar and oak spices. Well-integrated tannins offer texture and a plush mouthfeel. A small percentage of Petit Verdot was added for additional complexity.

Our Estate Vineyards provide the backbone to this Napa Valley blend, with Oak Knoll’s Little Cannon weighing in with a distinct sour cherry character while Yountville’s Hopper House and Guardian vineyards add classic Bing cherry. Together, this showstopper has a lovely balance of candied cherry laced with dark chocolate aromas. Floral fruit runs from strawberry preserves to boysenberry and is accented with an assortment of baking spices. The velvety entry melts like chocolate on the palate providing a silky but dense mouthfeel with a long, intense finish. “It’s hard to imagine anything with which this wine wouldn’t pair well … but slow-braised short ribs on a bed of buttery mash must be top of the ‘most decadent’ list.” – Kimberlee Nicholls, Winemaker

AROMAS & FLAVORS This is a velvety Merlot with a complex nose of cherry cola, cedar, vanilla and English toffee, followed by an enticing mouthfeel with flavors of plum, licorice, raspberry, mocha and cinnamon spice. This wine has impressive length and a lasting, elegant finish. FOOD PAIRINGS The fruit forward, easy-drinking qualities of this Merlot make it the perfect wine to pair with any red meat course, Italian entrees and roasted or grilled fragrantly-spiced poultry dishes. HOW IT'S MADE Upon entering the winery, the hand-harvested grapes are sorted, destemmed and then cold soaked for three days. Following the cold soak, yeast is added and pump overs commence, one to two times daily, for the duration of primary fermentation. The wine is drained and pressed, then moved to barrels for malolactic fermentation, remaining in individual lots until blending and bottling. The wine completes a total of 16 months barrel aging, allowing for the perfect balance of fruit, tannin and oak.

Ripe and velvety on the palate. The aromas are deep and smooth, redolent with ripe plums and blueberries with a fresh and lingering finish.

When the Coppola family decided to construct a winery resort in Sonoma County, they felt strongly about giving head winemaker Corey Beck, a Sonoma County native, the opportunity to make wines that reflected his own vision of the quintessential Sonoma wine. Director’s Cut became that endeavor— limited production, appellation-designate wines sourced from Sonoma’s diverse and distinctive microclimates. Named after the version of a film which most reflects the director's vision, the Director's Cut wines represent our winemaker's vision of varietal wines, which express true appellation character. In addition, every bottle of Director's Cut pays homage to the history of filmmaking with its wraparound label designed after a Zoetrope strip, one of the earliest moving picture devices. Each Director’s Cut label is a replica of a strip from Francis’s personal Zoetrope collection.

Established in 1988, Seven Hills Winery is proud to be among the founding estates of Walla Walla Valley. As pioneers who first championed the region, our heritage is built on longstanding relationships with the most renowned growers in the Northwest and a deep knowledge of the land. This Merlot is drawn from the founding blocks of our esteemed Seven Hills Winery estate vineyard, planted by Winemaker Casey McClellan and his father in the early 1980’s. Having worked with these vines for three decades, we are able to craft a wine that reflects the pedigree of our land and the complexity and grace of the appellation. Our Merlot exhibits a beautiful, dark ruby color and enticing aromas of blackberry, sweet oak spice, and light savory tones. The palate is supple and generous with loads of red fruits accentuated with vanilla and spice and finishing with both supple fruit and firm, spicy tannins.

Plum aromas lead to seductive deep raspberry, currant and hibiscus tea flavors, finishing with smooth and refined tannins.

Discover Hamilton Creek Merlot

Discover Clos Pegase “Mitsuko” Merlot

Discover Roth Merlot

Wild aromas of blackberry and cassis packed in a cedar chest. A smooth silky pack- age of Plum, black cherry and sticky blackberry lasts on the palate. Bright fleshy cherry, vanilla and spice on the forever finish. This merlot will age gracefully through 2019.

Discover Block 046 Merlot

Fresh and fruity with inviting aromas of ripe cherries, plums and a dash of vanilla. The medium-bodied palate is smooth and silky with soft tannins and balanced acidity. Enjoy this crowd pleasing Merlot on its own, or pair with an array of meals including grilled meats, pizza or aged cheeses.

Merlot is round and rich with classic aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, hints of mocha and espresso with a touch of savory dried herb. It has a juicy, ripe entry, a soft round fruit driven palate and a hint of vanilla créme on the finish.

Our Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot consistently exhibits elegance, concentration, and fine tannins. This Merlot exhibits dark cherry fruit, with an opulent mouthfeel and structure. I love matching Canoe Ridge Merlot with Italian dishes.

Discover Dalton Merlot

Our Grand Reserve Merlot is crafted with grapes hand-selected from specific areas of our Jackson Estates Grown vineyards in Sonoma County. An intense concentration of black fruit and dark chocolate is enhanced by 14 months of oak barrel aging. There is seductive fruit tone on the nose and a long, velvety finish.

Napa, CA- A smooth, rich Merlot with plum and dark cherry flavors that are nicely framed by notes of soft spice. These rich flavors continue on the palate and joined with hints of chocolate and blueberry that meld into a plush, velvety finish.

Discover Wyndham Estates Bin 999 Merlot

Discover Tulip “Just” Merlot

Ripe black cherries mingle with aromas of tobacco, coffee, clove, and brown sugar. A hint of warm oak toast provides a subtle frame for the nose. The concentrated fruit is voluminous in the mouth with silky tannins that lead into a finish that goes on and on. Notes of black cherry and ripe blueberry linger at the end.