varietal: Merlot

Country of Origin: United States

Retail Price: $27.99

Tasting Notes: Dark raspberry and strawberry notes are plush, and fly across the palate with a chocolate character, giving the wine more definition and fun. There is an uplifting and interesting spicy note, and the finish is powerful with bright fruit notes that are lengthy.

Country of Origin: United States

Appellation: Napa Valley

Retail Price: $37.99

Tasting Notes: Merlot has had to overcome quite a stigma over the past decade, but wineries that continued to produce quality merlot are making some of the best in the world. Randy and Scott Snowden had sold their grapes until 1993 to the likes of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Silver Oak, Caymus, Frank Family, Viader and Ramey. They decided to start making wine in 1993 and allowed Diana Snowden (Scott’s daughter, one of my favorite winemakers) to take the helm of winemaking in 2005. Lost Vineyard is a two-acre block located on perlite and sand soils. This wine was hand-harvested and fermented with native wild yeast and aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 14 months while being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The wine is 95% merlot with 5% cabernet sauvignon. Diana knocked this merlot out of the park! It has beautiful structure and intensity, with loads of fruit and velvet texture. Bright flavors of red cherry and currant pop into the palate with silky finesse and elegant balance. The mid-palate is balanced with ripe red fruit, with touches of spice and whiffs of earthy underbrush. Notes of plum, vanilla and cedar are prevalent with hints of tealeaf on the long, lingering finish

Country of Origin: United States

Appellation: Yakima Valley

Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: Powerful and controlled from start to finish, the beautiful cherry and blackberry flavors are only enhanced by a tasty layer of baking spice flavors. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, this Yakima Valley wine delivers.

Country of Origin: United States

Appellation: San Luis Obispo

Retail Price: $16.99

Tasting Notes: This structured and powerful wine has a texture and elevated character to the fruit that gives this spirited wine a fresh approachable note. The blackberry, plum and dark cherry flavors add depth and a strong backbone to the wine.