This is a Cabernet lovers’ Merlot! It’s bright strawberries, cherries, and black pepper with a velvety mouthfeel make you ask for more! The wine’s firm tannins and vibrant acidity create the perfect partner with beef tenderloin, rack of lamb, or roasted pork.

94 Point Review - Wine Review Online The current vintage of Grgich Merlot is a yet another example of how this remarkable winery has succeeded while going against the conventional wisdom over these past three decades. The approach is decidely Old World, evidenced by the fact that with all of its wines Grgich is a vintage or two behind its neighbors in the Napa Valley, choosing to give its wines additional bottle age before releasing them to market. The use of wild (indigenous) yeasts to ferment its wines is common in Europe, but frowned upon in most U.S. precincts, where cultured yeasts are the norm. The wines are always impeccably balanced and among the most cellar-worthy made in the United States. In my cellar I have Grgich Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the early 1990s that are in superb condition, with many more years left in an already long life. So I look at the 2009 Grgich Merlot two ways. In the moment it is a beautiful wine that exhibits firm structure, inviting aromas of red and black fruits with hints of savory spices, and it’s a steal at the price. On the other hand, I can’t wait to taste it again in a dozen years or more.

Wine Enthusiast Review This Merlot is so rich and fruity, it’s like an orchard in a bottle. Really gob smacks you with blackberries, cherries, plums and currants, set off with some heat from alcohol. Showcases the sunny ability of Napa Valley to get fruit this ripe.