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

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.

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

Wild flowers and dried sage collide effortlessly with blueberry and plum pit. Mid pallet offers up a medium body with stem tannin and blackberry pie crust. This wine delivers a powerful backend with a surprisingly long finish reminiscent of toasted marshmallow and melted milk chocolate. Pair with shimmering stars and grilled lamb kabobs.

Discover Lapostolle Merlot Alex 2012

Discover Marques de Casa Concha Merlot

Vibrant, Silky, Complex. This memorable Knights Valley Merlot is brightly aromatic with hints of cherry, currant and cedar. This wine's complex yet elegant structure, supports notes of toasty vanilla spice, cocoa and forest fruit with soft tannings and a lush, mouthwatering finish.

Discover Novelty Hill Merlot

Complex and food-friendly, this plush and balanced Merlot from some of the best vineyards surrounding the winery is perfect for everyday meals and special occasions. 18 month oak aging adds generous spice and polished, silky tannins.

Discover Wyndham Estate Bin Merlot

Our Merlot is rich in fruit and has a soft, full-bodied elegance. The velvety texture and bouquet of berries and herbs are uniquely characteristic of this grape variety.

This elegant and refined Merlot is filled with aromas of cassis and coffee which are mirrored in the palate, alongside flavours of ripe cherry, damson plum with hints of dark chocolate. The tannins are soft and silky, fashioning a lingering finish.

Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Merlot 2012 Winemaker's Notes: The elegant structure and red-fruit expression of Beaulieu Vineyard's Napa Valley Merlot reflects both the cool growing season and small crop of the vintage. Bing cherry, plum and raspberry mingle with chocolate-cherry truffle and red rose petal in this wine's sensual aromas and flavors. Silky tannins and beautifully balanced acidity gently support the expansive flavors through the delicious, lingering finish.

Flavorful aromas of plum and fig combine with delicate hints of sage and pipe tobacco. A full bodied wine with structured tannins and an excellent finish. The rich fruit flavors found in this Merlot complement a wide range of dishes, including braised beef, rich stews and pastas.

Discover Onabay Great Blue Heron Merlot

Discover Surrey Lane Vineyards Mozart’s Muse Merlot North Fork

Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Merlot Red Wine showcases glorious richness and mouthwatering fruit flavors. Deeply intense blackberry and black plum flavors layer with oak spices and a fresh, earthy complexity on the palate. Firm, velvety tannins are balanced by the refreshing acidity and long finish. The unique geography and climate of Napa Valley produce delicious grapes that give Robert Mondavi wine its distinctive character and intense fruit flavor. This merlot wine undergoes 22 days of maceration to maximize color and flavor extraction and polish the tannins for a lush, round mouthfeel. Cabernet sauvignon is included in the blend to enhance the wine's structure, balance and complex flavor profile. Pair a glass of this delicious red wine with your favorite chicken, pork, beef, lamb or duck dishes. Store at room temperature, but refrigerate this bottle of wine prior to serving for about 30 to 60 minutes. Serve cool for optimal taste. Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2020 Robert Mondavi, Acampo, CA USA.

Inky, ruby-red, this Merlot opens with fruity black cherry on the nose and light aromas of toasted oak, great concentration with bright flavors of blackberry, espresso, and mocha.

Discover Francis Coppola Dir Son Merlot

Flavorful layers of chocolate, cherry, and green olive elements, finishing with silky tannins.