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StateWays n www.stateways.com n September/October 2015 46 lovely aromatic perfume to the flavors of cherry, raspberry, flowers, cocoa and dusty spices. A nicely balanced, lovely merlot that finishes with a fine dusting of suave tannins and subtle persistence. This is what merlot should be! ($40) (93) Chelsea Goldschmidt Merlot 2013 (Alexander Valley, CA). Winemaker Nick Goldschmidt finds that terraced fruit ripens considerably later and brings more complexity and nuance to the finished wine. Stylistically, this is a cabernet drinker's merlot. Gold- schmidt strives for full body and power in the mouth, with wood behind the fruit. The wine has fresh black rasp- berry, cedar and toasty vanilla aromas, with cherry, black currant and spice flavors. ($19) (93) Markham Vineyards Merlot 2013 (Napa Valley, CA). Dark ruby in the glass, the nose is dominated by dark berry fruit, with a touch of plum. Hints of spice and chocolate contribute com- plexity. The wine is lush and full-bod- ied, with a balanced finish. ($25) (93) Hall Merlot 2012 (Napa Valley, CA). Deep and rich in color, this wine has aromas of cherry, violets and cocoa, leading to an elegant mid-palate with flavors of dark cherry, blackberries and some toasted oak. This is just a lovely, supple, soft merlot from one of Napa's best "new" vineyards. ($37) (93) Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Merlot 2012 (Columbia Valley, WA). Black fruit with spicy notes dominate the nose of this bright yet full-bodied wine. Dark ruby in the glass, the pal- ate is elegant, with excellent weight and fruit characteristics. Ready to accompany a wide range of dishes, this is a "go-to" meal wine. ($20) (93) Neyers, Neyers Ranch-Conn Valley 2012 (Napa Valley CA). This fabulous Merlot is farmed organically and flaunts pure notes of boysenberry, cocoa and dusty minerality, with great floral lift. Seamless and long on the palate, this is a real pleasure to drink. ($31) (93) St. Francis Reserve Merlot 2012 (So- noma Valley, CA). Black and red fruit explode from the glass, with hints of cocoa and spice. A very dark ruby, the (92) St. Supery Rutherford Estate Mer- lot 2012 (Napa Valley, CA). Very, very dark ruby in color. The nose and pal- ate are rich with black fruit, with cof- fee and spice hints. Quite weighty on the palate, the fruit shines through with excellent structure. An outstand- ing finish. ($50) (92) Franciscan Estate Merlot 2012 (Napa Valley, CA). Dark ruby in the glass, with purple hints. The nose is filled with sweet cherry and red fruit. Plenty of dark fruit in the mouth. Good weight, and a lengthy, well-balanced finish. ($21) (92) Matanzas Creek Winery Merlot 2012 (Sonoma County, CA). This 2012 merlot Sonoma County is absolutely delicious. Plums, blueberries, black cherries, mocha, bittersweet chocolate and stones emerge from the glass in a deeply expressive, balanced wine loaded with personality. Drink this plump, juicy merlot over the next handful of years. ($25) (92) Santa Ema Reserve (Chile). Plums, currants and blackberries with hints of dark chocolate arise from your glass. Easy tannins with a touch of spice. Bal- anced and medium bodied. Would hold up to grilled meats. ($15) (92) Stags' Leap Merlot 2009 (Napa Valley, CA). A dry, ageable red with fine tannins and beautiful complexity. Drinking beautifully now, and should age nicely. ($40) (92) Whitehall Lane Napa Merlot 2013 (California). A delicious merlot burst- ing with blackberry, dark cherry, plum and red currant flavors. The mid-palate is lush and full, giving way to a touch of mocha and finishing long with a hint of spice. ($22) Four Stars (91) Chelsea Goldschmidt Merlot 2013 (Alexander Valley, CA). This mer- lot has amazing structure and fruit. Lingering, yet subtle berry fruit give this wine that extra little pop of en- ergy and provide for a satisfying finish. The acidity and tannins do not fall off, wine has great fruit and weight in the mouth. The finish is extremely long, and balanced to the very end. ($40) (93) Columbia Crest H-3 (Washington). Outstanding wine and value. Rich with ripe red raspberry and dark choco- late. Long intense finish. An elegant mouthfeel full of luscious flavors that keep on evolving. ($15) (92) Poliziano, "In Violas" Merlot 2011 (Cortona, Tuscany, Italy, Dalle Terra). Blackberry, black licorice, clay and earth tones with hints of cinnamon and leather. Juicy mid-palate with more sweet dark fruit on the finish. ($22) (92) Osso Anna Merlot 2012 (Napa Val- ley, CA). One of the most complex merlots you will taste. This wine has a lot of structure, and as it begins to break down, the luscious fruit starts to release. This merlot offers layers of flavor that keep offering different hints of light cherry, berry fruit and even a hint of plum. This is a merlot-lover's dream. ($23) (92) Columbia Winery Merlot 2013 (Co- lumbia Valley, WA). Quite a dark ruby color to the eye. Lots of red fruit, with hints of spiciness and toast. Lots and lots of red fruit on the palate, with good weight and breadth. A very food- friendly wine; try it with a wide range of dishes. ($17) (92) Peju Province Merlot 2012 (Napa Valley, CA). Dense ruby to the edge of the glass. Plenty of black fruit, with a touch of plum, spice and vanilla. The wine has superb length and balance on the finish. ($35) WINE SELECTIONS H MERLOT Merlot Sales Slightly Decline According to the Beverage Information & Insights Group's Wine Handbook, Merlot represented approximately 5% of table wine sales in the U.S. in 2014, decreasing from 6% in 2013. Last year, more than 17 million 9-liter cases of Merlot were sold in the U.S. For more wine data and analysis, visit albevresearch. com.