If we can agree that Roberta’s Reserve is #1, what’s the first runner up? By the way, it’s normally 95+% Merlot IIRC. Not sure what the cut off should be…legally it would be 75+%
Abeja, Leonetti, Pedestal, Force Majeure IV, Fidelitas, Obelisco, Hestia, Fielding Hills, Cooper, Hightower, Steppe, Severino, Milbrandt
Washington producers from $20-80, some widely available, some below the radar, all good value (except maybe Leonetti).
I am a longtime fan of the Merlot from Switchback Ridge; however, the best Merlot I consumed in the last several years was a 2007 Pahlmeyer.
I always thought that Pahlmeyer had the spoofy blueberry milkshake going on.
Other than Roberta’s Reserve, here are a few that have floated my boat.
Shafer
Keenan
Coho Michael Black Vineyard
Old Matanzas Creek (early 90s)
Columbia Crest Reserve
Agree with the Washington choices earlier, some of the best wine values going.
IMO the best of the Long Island merlots—and there are several very good ones, including Paumanok Tuthill’s Lane—is the Old Vines merlot made only in select vintages by Lenz. The most recent vintage is 2007, which reflects not only winemaker Eric Fry’s high standards for this wine but also the length of time it is aged before he deems it ready for consumption. The last vintage prior to 2007 was 2002.
I don’t drink much California merlot, and I haven’t tasted the majority of the ones being discussed in this thread. So I can’t say how Lenz Old Vines would compare to Kapcsandy, Plumpjack, et. al. But it’s a seriously good wine.
Selene Frediani Vineyard Merlot
Great call. Silly good value at $24-$30
https://www.columbiacrest.com/shop/all-wine/2010-reserve-merlot-stone-tree-vineyard
Beringer Bancroft Ranch and Matanzas Creek merlots from the early-to-mid 1990s are still killer wines.
Current Seavey and Anderson Conn Valley Right Bank Blend are quite good.
… another big fan of Switchback Ridge here.
I agree with this. The only Merlot I really enjoy is Keenan.
Three Palms [Duckhorn].
Used to drink Casa Nuestra back when I was first getting into wine. Haven’t had any in a long time, but IMO it definitely passed the ‘silky mouth feel’ test.
Now that I think about it, I haven’t had much Merlot since Miles told us not to drink any f**king Merlot…
I’m a big fan of merlot. My favorites have been Seavey, Snowden, St. Clements, Forgeron, Fielding Hills, and Northstar.
Love Paloma and Pride, but hands down for me is Kapcsandy’s Roberta’s Reserve. On a par with the best in the world.
I think the best is clear- VERITE, LE MUSE, followed by ROBERTA’S s as mentioned a few times above. I believe both of these will be even better with much more age. I have drank through alot of my '99, '01, '02 Le Muse and in all cases they are still young and vibrant.
A more moderately priced good choice is Force Majeure Collaboration Series IV.
That’s what I was thinking!
And, it’s got a looong track record.
Pahlmeyer is consistently excellent year in and year out
Where’s the love for Amuse Bouche? Best I’ve ever had was the 96 Pahlmeyer.
Beringer Bancroft is good in a cab style.
Love both of these although for 2012, you can get almost 3 Blankiets for 1 bottle of Kapcsandy. And Kapcsandy, at least for me, isn’t three times the wine.