Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
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WINE SELECTIONS • MERLOT 62 Beverage Dynamics • September/October 2015 www.beveragedynamics.com 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 (Colum- bia 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 Val- ley, 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 fi nish. ($35) (92) St. Supery Rutherford Estate Merlot 2012 (Napa Valley, CA). Very, very dark ruby in color. The nose and palate are rich with black fruit, with coffee and spice hints. Quite weighty on the palate, the fruit shines through with ex- cellent structure. An outstanding fi nish. ($50) (92) Franciscan Estate Merlot 2012 (Napa Valley, CA). Dark ruby in the glass, with purple hints. The nose is fi lled with sweet cherry and red fruit. Plenty of dark fruit in the mouth. Good weight, and a lengthy, well-bal- anced fi nish. ($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. Balanced and medium bodied. Would hold up to grilled meats. ($15) (92) Stags' Leap Merlot 2009 (Napa Valley, CA). A dry, ageable red with fi ne tannins and beautiful complexity. Drinking beautifully now, and should age nicely. ($40) (92) Whitehall Lane Napa Merlot 2013 (California). A delicious merlot bursting with blackberry, dark cherry, plum and red currant fl avors. The mid-palate is lush and full, giving way to a touch of mocha and fi nishing long with a hint of spice. ($22) FOUR STARS (91) Chelsea Goldschmidt Merlot 2013 (Al- exander Valley, CA). This merlot 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 fi nish. The acidity and tannins do not fall off, yet are not overpowering, adding the balance to make this merlot a must-have. ($17) (91) Milbrandt The Estates Merlot 2011 (Washington). You will be greeted by ear thy aromas of ripe plum and herbs with fl avors of black cherry and blueberry, leading to a silky fi nish with hints of vanilla and toast. One of the best of Washington State's mid-priced merlots. ($25) (91) Chateau Laville Bordeaux Superieur 2012 (France). 75% merlot, 25% cabernet franc. After a year in oak, you get a seamless, silky merlot with a nice touch of spice to ac- company ripe cherry notes. A classic, elegant style with a touch of an earthy edge providing character and complexity. ($17) (91) Gordon Estate Merlot 2013 (Colum- bia Valley, WA). Ruby, with garnet hints. The nose is fi lled with concentrated black fruit, with sweet spice notes. The palate has great weight, with plenty of dark fruit. The fi nish lin- gers, with good balance. ($25) (91) Pepper Bridge Merlot 2012 (Walla Walla, WA). Substantial yet elegant. This wine pos- sesses concentrated elements of blackberry, black cherry and bitter chocolate, with a touch of tobacco. ($58) (91) Gordon Brothers Merlot 2012 (Colum- bia Valley, WA). A wine that showcases why Columbia Valley merlots are so critically ac- claimed: aromas and fl avors of plums, cedar, spice and vanilla are effor tlessly woven to- gether in the graceful, nuanced fi nish. ($30) (91) Camaraderie Cellars Merlot 2010 (Washington) Full of bold fl avors of dark cherries, dark plums, baking spices and vanil- la-laden oak. The upfront richness is balanced by a well-structured, crisp fi nish laced with fi ne-grained tannins. ($25) (91) Monticello Merlot Estate 2013 (Oak Knoll, CA) An elegant Napa Valley merlot that is brimming with nuanced fl avors of blackber- ries, red plums, smoke, dark chocolate and cedar. It impresses for its expansively rich texture and lengthy fi nish. ($37) (91) Cadence Coda Red Mountain 2013 (Washington). An intensely concentrated mer- lot that delivers opulent dark fruit, chocolate, coffee, spice, and cedar. The fl avors blend together on the palate to create a savory, rich profi le that's nearly irresistible. The fi nish is long, with lingering notes of dark plums. ($37) (91) Bogle Merlot 2013 (California). Con- sistent performer on price and quality. Easy drinking with ripe dark cherry. A "go-to" wine for every-day meals from burgers to pizza to poultry and red meats. ($10) (91) Chateau Picau-Perna, Saint-Emilion, 2012 (Bordeaux). This Right Bank Bordeaux sings with cherries, blackberries and even coffee beans on the nose. This wine has a lot of plum concentration in the mouth, with soft tannins and good acidity. The fi nish is some- what complex, with more coffee bean fl avors intertwined with dried fi gs. ($20) BD ★★★★(91) Duckhorn Merlot 2012 (Napa Valley, CA). Aromas of black tea, smoke, pomegranate and vanilla bean. A sleek tex- tured wine with fi nely grained tannins on the extended fi nish. ($50)