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Having been ridiculed (unfairly, in our opinion) in the movie, "Sideways," Merlot sometimes gets a bad rap as a beginner wine. We respectfully disagree. The Merlot grape, like many, can make fine wines for daily drinking as well as the best Merlots, sought out by collectors for their fine pedigree. Many of today's best-selling red blends contain Merlot as their backbone and some of the highest priced wines in the world (Château Pétrus in Bordeaux, for example) also use Merlot.
Merlot is versatile, which is why you'll find it planted in both warmer and cooler climates around the world. Besides Bordeaux, Merlot is also produced in the US, Australia, Chile, and elsewhere.
So here is an ode to Merlot. We know you well, and though we do not always sing your praises, we must give you your due as one of the greats.
Not Shippable. Western New York Local Delivery and In-Store Pickup only. Learn MoreSorry, this item is not available for shipment outside of the Western New York area. Either the bottle is too large for our packaging (i.e. we cannot ship anything larger than 750 ml), the dimensions/shape of the bottle doesn't fit within our packaging for safe shipment, or this is a widely-distributed wine (e.g. Barefoot, Yellow Tail, etc) which we only sell at our physical store or for in-store pickup.
$12.99
Only $11.69 each when you buy a solid or mixed case
JS92+92–93 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Wednesday, June 2, 2021 A tight, linear red with lots of currants, salt and cloves on the nose and palate. Really spicy. Medium-bodied with firm, polished tannins and a flavorful finish. A new wine from the owners of Chateau Angélus, from the area of Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux.RP90+90–92 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Jun 2021 Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Tempo d’Angélus charges out of the gate with bold notions of plum preserves, fresh blackberries and Morello cherries, plus hints of tilled soil, black olives and truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate has a beautifully velvety texture and a racy backbone supporting the generous black and red berry layers, finishing earthy. Very impressive for this price point! (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)JD89+89–91 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 6/4/2021 A value-priced release from this brilliant estate, the 2020 Tempo D’Angélus comes all from vines owned by Château Angélus and is based on 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc aged 18 months in barrel. It’s well worth seeking out and has a dense purple hue to go with classic Right Bank Merlot black cherry and black raspberry fruits, tobacco, cedarwood, and floral nuances. Rich and medium to full-bodied, with good mid-palate density and a great finish, it should certainly be an outstanding wine. (Jeb Dunnuck)
Premier Grand Cru Classé 2017 / 750 ml. | Item#51960
RP9797 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 16th Mar 2020 Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Pavie Macquin comes charging out of the glass with exuberant scents of warm black cherries, blackberry pie and wild blueberry coulis plus hints of menthol, licorice, candied violets and charcuterie. Medium-bodied, the palate is an exercise in precision and poise, featuring a beautiful frame of wonderfully ripe, very fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and multilayered. Simply stunning! The blend here is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It was aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, 70% new.VN9595 pts. - Vinous - Mar 2020 The 2017 Pavie Macquin is a rich, deep and super-expressive wine with remarkable persistence. As always, Pavie Macquin is a potent Saint-Émilion, but the 2017 has terrific energy as well. In 2017, Pavie-Macquin is not as forthcoming in its youth as it can be, and is going to need a few years in bottle to truly come together. A bit of time in the glass brings out very pretty floral top notes and rich, sensual fruit that is such a signature of this site. Tasted three times.SP9595 pts. - Wine Spectator - Mar 31, 2020 Features a delightfully pure aromatic burst of cassis and cool plum fruit leading off, followed by a rush of violet and lilac notes that add lift. Underneath, a subtle graphite edge injects sneaky length through the finish. Built on purity and cut. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2040. 4,833 cases made.JD9595 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 2/26/2020 Coming from a cool terroir located on the upper plateau, just behind Chateau Pavie, the 2017 Chateau Pavie Macquin checks in as a mix of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that spent 16 months in 70% new French oak. This wine is always closed, tannic, and hard to understand in its youth, yet blossoms with 7–8 years of bottle age. The 2017 sports a deep, purple/ruby color as well as beautiful notes of black raspberries, cassis, huge minerality, white flowers, and loamy earth. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet silky and seamless on the palate, it doesn’t have the sheer weight and flesh of the 2015 and 2016 yet is flawlessly balanced, has terrific tannins, and a great finish. It will be drinkable with just 4–6 years of bottle age and cruise for 15–20 years or more. (Jeb Dunnuck)
VN9292 pts. - Vinous - Feb 2022 The 2019 Clos du Roy has an intense bouquet of marine-tinged black fruit, though I get the feeling that it’s already beginning to close down. The palate is medium-bodied and concentrated, with firm tannins, plenty of black fruit and impressive structure on the finish. Very fine, but give it a couple of years in bottle.
VN9494 pts. - Vinous - Jan 2022 Plumpjack’s 2019 Merlot offers terrific tension and grip. In 2019, the Merlot includes fruit from a site in Carneros, and that seams to add an extra dimension of energy that is quite appealing. Dried herbs, leather, tobacco and crushed flowers lend striking aromatic nuance to this savory, beautifully delineated wine. The 2019 is super distinctive, not to mention a real pleasure to taste. (Antonio Galloni)JD9494 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 5/4/2022 A beautiful Merlot, the 2019 from PlumpJack offers everything you could want from this variety with its plump, fleshy, medium to full-bodied profile as well as terrific aromatics of black cherries, darker berries, leafy herbs, spring flowers, and a touch of chocolate. It’s ready to go yet should continue delivering the goods over the coming decade. (Jeb Dunnuck)
WE9191 pts. - Wine Enthusiast - 3/1/2021 This grand chateau on its hillside surveys a 150-acre vineyard. The top wine from the estate, this is mainly wood aged, giving polish as well as perfumed black-currant fruitiness. With its ripe tannins, the wine will easily age. Drink from 2023. (Roger Voss)RP90+90–92 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 23rd Apr 2019 Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Pitray features bright, expressive wild blueberries, black raspberries and warm plums scents with hints of spice cake and potpourri. Full-bodied, the palate is laden with juicy blue and black fruits, framed by plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with beautiful purity. (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)JS9090 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Wednesday, March 3, 2021 A juicy, flavorful red that is delicious now, offering plum, chocolate and berry aromas and flavors. Medium body, firm tannins and a savory finish. Nice acidity, too. Drink or hold.
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2018 / 750 ml. | Item#55578
JS9797 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Thursday, April 22, 2021 Currant, red-tea, chili, chocolate and lemon-zest aromas. Chalk and crushed gravel, too. It’s medium-bodied with tight, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Sleek and tight with crunchy berry, mineral and zesty notes on the finish. Complex. Pretty center palate to this. Extremely polished. Try from 2025.JD95+95+ pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 3/11/2021 Emerging from a beautiful, terraced vineyard on the eastern side of Saint-Emilion, the 2018 Château Tour Saint Christophe is based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 40% new French oak. Its vivid purple color is followed by a great nose of blackcurrants, blueberries, tobacco leaf, chocolate, violets, and chocolate. Hitting the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, it has this wonderful sense of purity and elegance, a touch of chalky minerality, flawless balance, and a great finish. This beautiful, elegant, seamless Saint-Emilion needs 4–5 years of bottle age but will evolve for 20–25 years. You won’t regret having this in the cellar. (Jeb Dunnuck)VN9595 pts. - Vinous - Mar 2021 The 2018 Tour Saint Christophe represents a new level of elegance, precision and finesse for this estate in Saint-Émilion’s Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes district. Silky and exceptionally polished, the 2018 oozes class. Moreover, the heavy extraction and strong torrefaction notes that marked previous vintages of the recent past have been replaced by beautifully precise, vibrant fruit. Tour Saint Christophe is one of best values in Saint-Émilion. I haven’t always loved Tour Saint Christoph, but I love the 2018. It’s a fabulous effort from Technical Director Jérôme Aguirre and his team. Don’t miss it.RP9494 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Apr 2021 A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, aged for around 18 months in oak barrels, 40% new, the 2018 Tour Saint Christophe weighs in at 14.6% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with bold notions of baked black cherries, plum preserves and blueberry pie plus underlying suggestions of Christmas cake, Chinese five spice and dusty soil. The full-bodied palate packs in the black and blue fruit preserves layers, framed by velvety tannins and lively acidity, finishing long and spicy.
JS9696 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Tuesday, June 22, 2021 Aromas of blackberry, plum, cocoa, iodine, clove and graphite. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins. Tightly wound and mineral at the moment, with dusty gravel and graphite notes, yet with focus and precision. Such balance and harmony for the vintage. Try from 2025.JD9595 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 3/11/2021 The top wine, the 2018 Château D’Issan is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. It offers a beautiful, singular bouquet of blackcurrants, new leather, smoked tobacco, scorched earth, and camphor. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, seamless Margaux with wonderful tannins, beautifully integrated acidity, and just a flawlessly balanced, elegant, layered style that’s going to evolve for 20–25 years. It’s one classy 2018 that has loads to love. (Jeb Dunnuck)RP94+94–96 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 23rd Apr 2019 The 2018 D’Issan is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, aging in 50% new and 50% second year barrels for an estimated 18 months. With 13.97% alcohol and a deep garnet-purple color, it features baked berries, warm cherries and cassis with spice box and fragrant earth plus tea hints. Medium to full-bodied, it has a great core of muscular fruit with firm, fine-grained tannins, with nice freshness, finishing layered with mineral notions.VN9494 pts. - Vinous - Mar 2021 The 2018 d’Issan is a potent, backward wine that is going to need a number of years to come into its own. Dark and brooding, with serious intensity, the 2018 shows off real depth in its blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, spice, smoke and leather flavors. The tannins are imposing today, but, then again, everything about the 2018 feels large in scale. I can’t wait to see how the 2018 ages.
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