Top Rated Merlot

Merlot grapes growing the French wine region of Bourg AOC on the right bank of Bordeaux.

Merlot is the most widely cultivated grape in the Bordeaux region. The name is derivative of an Old French word for "young blackbird" (“merle”), probably to indicate the dark color of the grape. The medium-bodied wine often has notes of red berries, blackberry, strawberry, black cherry and plum, as well as hints of cedar, tobacco, chocolate and fruitcake. The best Merlots we've tasted, starting with our highest rated wines.

Blackbird Vineyards
2004 Proprietary Red Wine
Napa Valley, CA
16.5/20
$80

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Duckhorn Vineyards
2004 Howell Mountain Napa Valley Red Wine
Howell Mountain, CA
16.5/20
$75

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Duckhorn Vineyards
2005 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
16.5/20
$85

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Farella-Park Vineyards
1995 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
16.5/20
$65

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Decoy
2008 Napa Valley Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
16/20
$75

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Barlow
2004 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
15/20
$18

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Hall
2003 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
15/20
$28

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Korbin Kameron
2007 Merlot
Sonoma Valley, CA
15/20
$35

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Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
2004 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
15/20
$42

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Chappellet
2006 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
14.5/20
$30

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Clos Du Val
2004 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
14.5/20

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MacRostie
2005 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
14.5/20
$45

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Matanzas Creek Winery
2005 Merlot
Bennett Valley, CA
14.5/20
$49

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Rosenthal the Malibu Estate
2006 Malibu Newton Canyon Merlot, Devon Vineyard
Malibu AVA, CA
14.5/20
$26

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Waterstone
2007 Napa Valley Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
14.5/20
$18 ______________________________________________

Whitehall Lane Winery & Vineyards
2004 Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
14.5/20
$28

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Christian Moueix
2005 Merlot
Bordeaux, France
14/20
$12

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Columbia Winery
2004 Merlot
Columbia Valley, WA
14/20
$16

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Duckhorn Vineyards
2005 Napa Valley Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
14/20
$52

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Ehlers Estate
2006 Estate Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
14/20
$45

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Francis Coppola
2006 Diamond Collection Blue Label Merlot
California
14/20
$18

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MacRostie Winery
2004 Napa Valley Merlot
Napa Valley, CA
14/20
$28

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Ravenswood Winery
2004 Merlot
Sonoma County, CA
14/20
$18

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Seven Hills
2007 Merlot
Columbia Valley, WA
14/20
$22

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Sterling Vineyards
2004 Sterling Vintner's Collection Merlot
California
13.5/20
$13

Previously featured Merlot
More Top Rated Wines

*Merlot photo by Michael Clarke

(Updated: 03/21/12 BH)

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