Trefethen Family Vineyards Merlot, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, 2013 ($40): A blend of 95% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon barrel aged for 18 months. Aromas of blueberry pie, spiced-cake, dusty oak and black cherry with flavors following of juicy blackberries and dark chocolate. It’s super smooth while finishing long. This wine was even better on the second day of tasting. You could drink now with decanting or age this for several years.

Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, 2013 ($55): A blend of 88% Merlot, 7% cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc barrel aged for 15 months. This has intoxicating aromas of ripe cherries, cedar, Asian spice and orange peel with delicious flavors of black raspberries and sweet plum. It’s ridiculously balanced. This is another wine you could drink now or age for several years.

Both of these wines were absolutely inspiring but you can easily find some excellent Merlot at a lower price point. So let’s contribute to the movement of #MerlotMe and drink more of it.
[null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wFzOtneOiw/WFRCulvXY_I/AAAAAAAAAwY/OXAYWFZ2KZg-htOI0SzvA8Wf4IyhUSSKwCLcB/s320/Merlot.JPG", "src": "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wFzOtneOiw/WFRCulvXY_I/AAAAAAAAAwY/OXAYWFZ2KZg-htOI0SzvA8Wf4IyhUSSKwCLcB/s320/Merlot.JPG", "formatted_filename": "Merlot", "rendered_width": 258, "rendered_height": 320}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UP21K6OMlYE/T-z8pM_E5rI/AAAAAAAABww/8_rajMipoT8/s48/facebook.png", "src": "https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UP21K6OMlYE/T-z8pM_E5rI/AAAAAAAABww/8_rajMipoT8/s48/facebook.png", "formatted_filename": "facebook", "rendered_width": 48, "rendered_height": 48}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I72XDQVFiEE/T-z8x8yOWoI/AAAAAAAABys/YeekshujxHM/s48/twitter.png", "src": "https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I72XDQVFiEE/T-z8x8yOWoI/AAAAAAAABys/YeekshujxHM/s48/twitter.png", "formatted_filename": "twitter", "rendered_width": 48, "rendered_height": 48}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ViP0UiPBWU/WTF5evh7VmI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/8IO2VrmKNkYQZTm7DjEHkA2l2BTVWmCawCLcB/s72-c/Little%2BBlue.JPG", "src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ViP0UiPBWU/WTF5evh7VmI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/8IO2VrmKNkYQZTm7DjEHkA2l2BTVWmCawCLcB/s72-c/Little%2BBlue.JPG", "formatted_filename": "Little BBlue", "alt_text": "Rendezvous with Little Blue", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d1kzo3psSm8/WOv6hb4aHcI/AAAAAAAAA0k/Gne0N8RECAYi9hl6q9iUT-mEAHjl3ZDKwCLcB/s72-c/IMG_3527.JPG", "src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d1kzo3psSm8/WOv6hb4aHcI/AAAAAAAAA0k/Gne0N8RECAYi9hl6q9iUT-mEAHjl3ZDKwCLcB/s72-c/IMG_3527.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "alt_text": "A New Pinot and Friend", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "//3.bp.blogspot.com/_amEZGZFfNSw/SzwcPDLQmAI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Ihsdc-wpwG4/s72-c/Image_0907%5B1%5D.PNG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_amEZGZFfNSw/SzwcPDLQmAI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Ihsdc-wpwG4/s72-c/Image_0907%5B1%5D.PNG", "formatted_filename": "Image   B   D", "alt_text": "Glenfiddich 21 Year old / Caribbean Rum Finish", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdLGW0xD2vg/WLryRvQddBI/AAAAAAAAAz8/GJ7LL-V5pOwikVlBJ1gXSMmAO5W0BOCCgCLcB/s72-c/IMG_3145.JPG", "src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdLGW0xD2vg/WLryRvQddBI/AAAAAAAAAz8/GJ7LL-V5pOwikVlBJ1gXSMmAO5W0BOCCgCLcB/s72-c/IMG_3145.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "alt_text": "Corned Beef, Cabbage, and Beaujolais! ", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9g7EA97TUo/Vy0CTdObOiI/AAAAAAAAAqc/Y_Tk92JHJTcwwd3WOCN1iOdiE6rzYBo9QCLcB/s72-c/IMG_0352.JPG", "src": "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9g7EA97TUo/Vy0CTdObOiI/AAAAAAAAAqc/Y_Tk92JHJTcwwd3WOCN1iOdiE6rzYBo9QCLcB/s72-c/IMG_0352.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "alt_text": "Your New Summer Wine!", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GO27b-Jb6VY/VuXv5V3cIqI/AAAAAAAAAqI/z-3wrkh5ESgICUqCVj0l9s8OC5QmQqgCg/s72-c/12832424_1006774406056466_334506602091734924_n.jpg", "src": "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GO27b-Jb6VY/VuXv5V3cIqI/AAAAAAAAAqI/z-3wrkh5ESgICUqCVj0l9s8OC5QmQqgCg/s72-c/12832424_1006774406056466_334506602091734924_n.jpg", "alt_text": "Desert Island Grape", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kzThhSBsi48/Vy0IMZmOKpI/AAAAAAAAAqw/D06nele7drALXPyTt86UvGcvkW7Ycx7jgCLcB/s72-c/IMG_0441.JPG", "src": "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kzThhSBsi48/Vy0IMZmOKpI/AAAAAAAAAqw/D06nele7drALXPyTt86UvGcvkW7Ycx7jgCLcB/s72-c/IMG_0441.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "alt_text": "Good Wine is Meant to be Shared! ", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F5eR5U5-uhM/WFRErJBgcYI/AAAAAAAAAwg/jhReYIqrQGUtelXVdkWkZ_nbl6qMzmTnwCLcB/s72-c/Orange.JPG", "src": "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F5eR5U5-uhM/WFRErJBgcYI/AAAAAAAAAwg/jhReYIqrQGUtelXVdkWkZ_nbl6qMzmTnwCLcB/s72-c/Orange.JPG", "formatted_filename": "Orange", "alt_text": "Silver and Gold\u2026 and Orange?", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8n2Srhc1pjk/WaRN1yUUMRI/AAAAAAAAA2w/COzgCMIuG8AavWpt3H_DxpQ9CxYRvrVFwCLcBGAs/s72-c/Parabellum%2BFront.jpg", "src": "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8n2Srhc1pjk/WaRN1yUUMRI/AAAAAAAAA2w/COzgCMIuG8AavWpt3H_DxpQ9CxYRvrVFwCLcBGAs/s72-c/Parabellum%2BFront.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Parabellum BFront", "alt_text": "Force Majeure\u2019s, Parabellum 2014", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.thechicagowino.com/2016/12/merlotme.html", "unformatted_src": "//4.bp.blogspot.com/_amEZGZFfNSw/SzwUqTlofJI/AAAAAAAAAGM/mrN469TNWsU/s72-c/Kiona.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_amEZGZFfNSw/SzwUqTlofJI/AAAAAAAAAGM/mrN469TNWsU/s72-c/Kiona.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Kiona", "alt_text": "Kiona, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003", "rendered_width": 50, "rendered_height": 50}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]