Alphabetical Guide to California Merlot

From the Dec 15, 2021, issue

Nearly 100 wines were reviewed by senior editor Kim Marcus for the California Merlot tasting report in the Dec. 15, 2021, issue of Wine Spectator. For a full analysis of the latest vintage and recommended wines, read “California Merlot Makes Its Case.” WineSpectator.com members can find full reviews, with full tasting notes, in the Wine Ratings Search.

Wine	Score	Price
ANCIENT OAK
Sappho Berger Vineyard Sonoma Mountain 2015	92	$80
B CELLARS
Blend 27 Napa Valley 2018	90	$89
BALLENTINE
Merlot Napa Valley 2018	91	$45
BARNETT
Merlot Spring Mountain District 2018	87	$70
BENZIGER
Merlot Sonoma County 2017	88	$19
BERINGER
Merlot Howell Mountain Bancroft Ranch Vineyard Single Vineyard 2018	93	$90
CA' MOMI
Merlot Napa Valley 2019	87	$20
CASTLE ROCK
Merlot Paso Robles 2018	87	$11
CELANI FAMILY
Tenacious Napa Valley 2018	92	$70
CHAPPELLET
Merlot Napa Valley 2018	92	$50
CHIMNEY ROCK
Elevage Stags Leap District 2018	92	$110
COHO
Headwaters Napa Valley 2016	93	$55

Merlot Coombsville Michael Black Vineyard 2016	92	$55
CORNERSTONE
Merlot Oakville Oakville Station 2017	90	$85
CUVAISON
Merlot Napa Valley Los Carneros Small Lot Arcilla 2018	92	$70
DECOY
Merlot California 2019	87	$25
DRY CREEK
Merlot Dry Creek Valley 2018	90	$40
DUCKHORN
Merlot Atlas Peak 2018	92	$80

Merlot Napa Valley 2018	89	$56

Merlot Napa Valley Carneros 2018	89	$80

Merlot Napa Valley Rector Creek Vineyard 2018	91	$105

Merlot Napa Valley Three Palms Vineyard 2018	94	$110
EHLERS ESTATE
Merlot St. Helena 2018	89	$65
FERRARI-CARANO
Merlot Sonoma County 2018	89	$21
FOLIE À DEUX
Merlot Alexander Valley 2018	87	$20
PETER FRANUS
Merlot Napa Valley 2017	87	$40
FREI BROTHERS
Merlot Dry Creek Valley Sonoma Reserve 2018	88	$20
GOLDSCHMIDT
Fidelity Alexander Valley 2019	90	$20

Merlot Alexander Valley Chelsea Goldschmidt Guidestone Rise 2019	88	$20
GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU
Merlot Sonoma Valley 2018	89	$35

Merlot Sonoma Valley Heritage Selection Estate Vineyard 2018	92	$65
HAGAFEN
Merlot Coombsville 2018	88	$42
HAHN
Merlot Central Coast 2018	83	$15
HAWLEY
Merlot Dry Creek Valley Hawley Vineyard 2017	90	$42
HESTAN
Merlot Napa Valley Stephanie 2016	88	$55
HIGHWAY 12
SRB Sonoma County 2018	89	$20
HOURGLASS
HG III Napa Valley 2018	91	$50

Merlot Napa Valley Blueline Estate 2018	92	$75
HUDSON VINEYARDS
Merlot Napa Valley Carneros Laughing Lands 2018	94	$95

Phoenix Napa Valley Carneros 2018	93	$65
JOSH CELLARS
Merlot California 2019	84	$17
KENDALL-JACKSON
Merlot Bennett Valley Jackson Estate Jackson Hills 2018	92	$50

Merlot Sonoma County Vintner's Reserve 2017	90	$24
KENWOOD
Merlot Mendocino-Sonoma Counties 2018	87	$15
CHARLES KRUG
Merlot Napa Valley 2018	90	$25
KUNDE FAMILY
Merlot Sonoma Valley 2018	89	$18
LA JOTA
Merlot Howell Mountain 2018	95	$85
LAIRD FAMILY
Merlot Napa Valley Suscol Ranch 2018	89	$60
LARKIN
Red Napa Valley 2018	82	$10 / 250ml
LARKMEAD
Firebelle Napa Valley 2018	93	$100
LEWIS
Merlot Napa Valley 2019	94	$80
J. LOHR
Cuvée POM Paso Robles 2017	89	$50

Merlot Paso Robles Los Osos 2019	89	$15
MAKER
Merlot Napa Valley 2018	83	$14 / 250ml
MARKHAM
Merlot Napa Valley 2018	91	$29

Merlot Napa Valley Estate Grown 2017	91	$50
LOUIS M. MARTINI
Merlot Napa Valley No. 254 2018	90	$85
MINER
Merlot Napa Valley Stagecoach Vineyard 2018	88	$50
SEAN MINOR
Nicole Marie North Coast 2019	88	$22
MIRA
Merlot Napa Valley Hyde Vineyard 2015	92	$89
MT. BRAVE
Merlot Mount Veeder 2018	93	$85
PAHLMEYER
Jayson Napa Valley 2018	93	$65
PALOMA
Merlot Spring Mountain District 2017	88	$66
PEDRONCELLI
Friends Red Sonoma County 2019	86	$14

Merlot Dry Creek Valley Bench Vineyards 2018	89	$18
PEJU
Fifty/Fifty Napa Valley 2018	89	$120

Fifty/Fifty Napa Valley 2017	93	$120
THE PRISONER WINE COMPANY
Merlot Napa Valley Thorn 2017	92	$45
RAYMOND
Merlot Napa Valley Reserve Selection 2018	91	$28
ROMBAUER
Merlot Napa Valley 2018	88	$45

Merlot Napa Valley Proprietor Selection 2018	88	$80
ROWEN
Red Sonoma County 600 R 2017	91	$150
RUTHERFORD HILL
Merlot Napa Valley 2019	91	$35

Merlot Napa Valley 2018	90	$30
SAISON
Merlot Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Vineyard 2017	88	$58
SHAFER
TD-9 Napa Valley 2018	89	$60
SILENUS
Merlot Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley 2017	90	$45
SILVERADO VINEYARDS
Merlot Coombsville Mt George Vineyard 2017	89	$40
SMITH & HOOK
Proprietary Red Wine Blend Central Coast 2017	88	$25
ST. FRANCIS
Merlot Sonoma County 2018	87	$22

Merlot Sonoma Valley Reserve 2017	91	$40
ST. SUPÉRY
Merlot Rutherford 2018	90	$68

Merlot Rutherford 2017	90	$60
STAGS' LEAP WINERY
Merlot Napa Valley 2018	88	$35

Merlot Stags Leap District Block 20 2018	92	$70
RODNEY STRONG
Merlot Sonoma County 2017	86	$20
SULLIVAN
Merlot Rutherford J.O. Sullivan Founder's Reserve 2018	89	$250
SUMMITVINE
Diamant Summitvine Ranch Diamond Mountain District 2017	91	$58
SUNSTONE
Eros Santa Ynez Valley 2018	88	$75

Merlot Santa Ynez Valley Reserve 2018	87	$65
TAMBER BEY
Merlot Yountville 2018	90	$75
TAUB FAMILY VINEYARDS
Merlot Oakville 2017	91	$45
WHITEHALL LANE
Merlot Napa Valley 2018	88	$34