Merlot

With only 10 hectares planted to vines, Château Bardins is miniscule compared to the Left Bank’s best-known estates—and the rustic, traditional wines are quite a find! Dark-fruited and earthy, with hints of graphite... Read More

The 1st wine from Branaire-Ducru offers some of the Left Bank’s best value for this quality level—especially considering the additional bottle aging! Bold, dark-fruited, & earthy, with pleasant spice, firm tannic structure,... Read More

As the second wine of the famed 2nd-growth Château Brane-Cantenac, this classic example of Margaux offers surprisingly good value! Supple and seductive, it offers brambly red fruit, cedar and pencil shavings, subtle spice,... Read More

Soft and subtle on the palate, with velvety yet quite present tannins and an undercurrent of mouthwatering acidity lifting the rustic notes of dark cherry, mint, violets, herbs, and forest floor. Hints of spice on the long, complex... Read More

Deep and dark in color, with complex, lively aromas of cassis, kirsch, and plum leading to a robust, ripe palate with the same profile. Lifted by pleasant acidity, the wine closes with well-structured but very soft tannins. Delicious... Read More

This bold, broad-shouldered example of Merlot comes from California’s Sonoma County. Displaying rich, layered notes of cassis, subtle red fruit, eucalyptus, baking spice, and well-integrated oak, it offers firmly structured... Read More

Located near famed Cheval Blanc, Château de Valois has both excellent terroir and an approach that showcases it: minimal sulfur, mostly neutral oak, and no fining before bottling. This Pomerol is rustic and earthy with lively... Read More

Helmed by the great-grandson of James de Rothschild, this small Bordeaux estate boasts the clay-limestone soil that makes for the finest Saint-Émilion. Layers of Morello cherry, black fruit, spice, and vanilla from well-integrated... Read More

Made without the use of any sulfur during winemaking or at the time of bottling, this is a fresh, vibrant wine from the south of France that still has plenty of grippy tannic structure. Excellent with food, it is well-suited to... Read More

This medium-bodied, fruit-forward Merlot comes from Nadia Lusseau, who created Château Haut Lavigne in 2002 when she took over 8.5 hectares in the Côtes de Duras. This cuvee, which translates to ‘Breathless’... Read More

From hillside vines at the base of Howell Mountain, this is an excellent example of Napa Cabernet that retains its Bordelais inspiriation—bold & structured, but not quite so jammy and overly oaked as many others. Dark fruits,... Read More

Classic Left Bank Bordeaux! Aromas of cassis, green pepper, baking spice, and graphite with medium-plus body, lifting, acidity, and flavors of black cherry, plum, leather, and earth with a long, grippy finish. Drinking beautifully... Read More

Montrose’s ‘third wine’ is dominated by Merlot, making it a surprisingly soft, approachable Left Bank option. Notes of ripe red fruit, pleasant spice, and well-integrated oak lead to a long finish with excellent... Read More

From estate vineyards in the heart of Bolgheri—also home to Sassicaia—this wine offers excellent value for its complexity, richness, and age-worthy structure. Ripe black and red fruit, spice, and well-integrated oak... Read More

This organically-farmed blend comes from just south of Bordeaux and Armagnac. A marriage of red and black fruit with vibrant, fresh acidity and an earthy, mineral core should please fans of both Bordeaux and Loire Cabernet Franc,... Read More

Farmed organically & fermented in used casks, stainless steel, & clay amphora, this fresh, juicy red blend marries the peppery, dark-fruited qualities of cool-climate Syrah with the slight greenness of Loire Cab Franc, followed... Read More

This gorgeous ‘Super Tuscan’ combines international varieties with Sangiovese, all organically-farmed by a top producer. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, cassis, cedar, and menthol with silky tannins. Ornellaia... Read More

An outstanding example of properly made domestic Cabernet! Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and ripe plums. Light and gripping tannins. Hints of vanilla, toast, & kirsch that evolve on the mid-palate, intertwined with mint, eucalyptus,... Read More

This small-production Bordeaux-inspired blend comes from a cool micro-climate in the Margaret River, resulting in excellent freshness and restrained alcohol. A nose full of green bell pepper and fresh red & black fruit leads to... Read More