NYC, Long Island and The Hamptons Receive Free Delivery on Orders $300+
Cool Wine Shippers Now Available.

Merlot Wines

Merlot Wines

Merlot Wines

Merlot is the only grape varietal in Bordeaux that can compete with Cabernet Sauvignon when it comes to influence and the amount planted each year. Taking its name from the French word for a blackbird, Merlot is a versatile wine when it comes to social scenarios and food pairings. This versatility also earns it a spot in various blended wines, further solidifying Merlot as a staple in French winemaking.

Merlot wines offer a massive collage of flavors to indulge in, depending on which bottle you end up purchasing. From the sensual plums and blackberries to the earthy graphite and cedar undertones, all the way to the inclusion of cocoa in some blends, Merlot wines always have an ace up their sleeve that will surprise you and urge you to experiment even further. As Robert Parker declares in his book, “great wines have the ability to both satisfy the senses and challenge the intellect.” You can drink from the same bottle multiple times and discover something new each time, leaving you to think about what kind of masterful technique made such an achievement possible.

The relatively high alcohol content (hovering between 13% and 14.5%, depending on region) and incredible flavor cement this wine as a staple alongside many different dishes, and enable its presence at almost any kind of social event. Even if you don’t plan on storing it for a longer period, Merlot wine is a great option if you just want a satisfying drink.
Sort:
View as List Grid
per page
2014 masseto Super Tuscan/IGT

Beautiful aromas of violets and blackberry with hints of spice. Some sweet tobacco. Full body, yet refined and polished with ultra-fine tannins and a long, long finish. The texture and intensity are exceptional. Fantastic for the vintage. Drink in 2021 but a joy to taste.James Suckling | 97 JSA generally difficult vintage in Tuscany, with stubborn rains during August, but Masseto proves again that it stands apart. One of the longest and latest harvests on record, the result is proof that those famously sticky blue clays provide an effective barrier to rain. This is a gorgeous, powerful but extremely balanced expression of the Merlot grape. It’s the texture that is striking – silky but insistent, layer building upon layer until you feel the intensity as a physical presence, with an intensely fragrant mid-palate that holds on for several minutes. The sexy flourishes of Tuscany are here in abundance, but nothing is overpowering and instead the focus is on violet, liquorice, slate and smoky, charred blueberries with a contraction on the finish, the menthol edge tightening up like a zip. Drinking Window 2020 - 2032.Decanter | 95 DECThe 2014 Masseto has developed beautifully over the past few years of its oak and bottle evolution. This is a very distinctive edition of the iconic Italian Merlot that delivers a silky and streamlined approach. As bold and opulent as Masseto is in the warm vintages, I personally find those wines difficult to finish because the extract, concentration and intensity are so over the top. The best vintages of Masseto usually overpower any food dish you put before them. This is a subdued and downplayed expression instead. The cool summer season has shaped fresh berry notes of wild blackberry and cassis with drying mineral, tobacco, licorice and tar. There is evident sweetness here in terms of the wine's fruit flavors and its tannins, but there also is a cooling vein of acidity that makes the difference. The alcohol feels integrated and light. If you are hankering for a less massive and less muscular Masseto, this vintage is for you.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2014 Masseto continues to develop into a very pretty wine. Silky, medium in body and gracious, the 2014 is all about understatement. Each time I taste it, I uncover a new layer of dimension and nuance I did not see before. I expect the 2014 will develop along the lines of the 2005 and 2002, both wines from very cool, late-ripening years. This is the best showing yet for the 2014. This very challenging cool, rainy growing season is also the longest harvest at Masseto. Picking started on September 5 and wrapped up more than a month later, on October 7.Vinous Media | 93+ VMOffers piercing black cherry and black currant fruit on a lighter profile, with vibrant acidity. Refined tannins make this harmonious, picking up a touch of chocolate on the spicy finish. Merlot.—Non-blind Masseto vertical (October 2017). Best from 2020 through 2035. 325 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WSAromas of cedar, red berry, pipe tobacco and a whiff of toasted oak lift out of the glass. The elegant but restrained palate delivers red cherry, cassis, licorice and exotic spice alongside bright acidity and fine-grained polished tannins. It's an admirable effort for the cool wet vintage.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

97
JS
As low as $960.00

Need Help Finding the right wine?

Your personal wine consultant will assist you with buying, managing your collection, investing in wine, entertaining and more.

loader
Loading...