While some of its cousins make a large splash by way of ripeness and sweet oak, this well-constructed young opus displays plenty of both while setting its sights primarily on fruit. With elements of ripe plums and red berries leading the way, it is a balanced, medium-full-bodied Syrah with a sense of polish that its tannins and finishing stiffness do not negate. We like its impressions of potency and well-defined fruit, and five years of steady improvement seems a forgone conclusion.

Alexander Mountain Ranch is the new name for the former Gauer Estate, now owned by Kendall-Jackson, and the source for this single vineyard merlot. Lush sweet berry flavors fill out this wine from beginning to end. It has the appealing richness of the grape, while maintaining a firm, dry structure. Packed with fruit and tannin, this could use some cellaring to soften - or enjoy it now with seared filet mignon.

Loaded with cassis and raspberries on the nose; big texture in the mouth, with firm tannins and fruit from start to long finish.

The 2014 Merlot Jackson Estate Taylor Peak comes from Bennett Valley and is made from clone 181, which is believed to be the clone that dominates the Petrus vineyard in Pomerol. This 100% Merlot is outstanding, displaying mulberry, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, some licorice, incense and Asian spice. It is ripe, full-bodied, opulent and a fairly hedonistic Merlot. Sadly, only 395 cases were produced. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.

A great value with black plum, cassis and notes of chocolate; rich, deep and dense with sweet oak and toast.

Smooth and luscious with black plum, cassis and notes of chocolate; rich, deep and dense with sweet oak and toast; long and balanced.

There's tremendous value in this well-made wine. It's savory in its mix of dried herb and plum notes, with smooth, softened tannins and judicious use of oak that lends richness to the palate. It'll appeal broadly.

Jammed with fruit and well-structured, this offers bold black raspberry and mocha aromas and appealingly zesty red currant, spiced herb and toast flavors.

This is a sumptuous, well-crafted wine, nearly 100% varietal and dark purple in color. It offers leathery chocolate and red cherry flavors around still-dense tannins that seem to soften in the glass. Given more than a year in oak, only a small percentage of it new, it’s lively and refined.

Kendall-Jackson's 2012 Merlot Grand Reserve is dark, rich and explosive, with gorgeous intensity through the mid-palate and terrific overall balance. Mocha, plums, smoke, tobacco and dark spices all flesh out in the glass. This is one of the more explosive, powerful wines in the range.

Expressive in leathery plum and blueberry aromas and flavors, with a soft, spicy streak that lifts the experience, this wine finishes in a dusting of cocoa powder.

An expressive version of the variety, this includes tiny percentages of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Leathery plum and blueberry are the standouts in terms of aromas and flavors, with a soft, spicy streak that lifts the experience, finishing in a dusting of cocoa powder.

This Merlot is dry, full-bodied and delicious in fruit and oak. Black cherries, currants, mocha, plums, vanilla and fragrant sandalwood all come together to provide a complex drink that’s firm in tannins and fancy in the finish. Drink now.

Smooth and ripe with lush flavors of plum and spice; silky and nicely structured with soft herbs and notes of mocha; long and balanced.

Lovely rich and balanced; generous and deep with blueberry, plum and soft spice; vanilla oak and lush texture; long and smooth; charming.

Zesty and polished, with red currant aromas and well-structured dark cherry, caramel and herb flavors, finishing with ripe tannins.

Smooth and lush with juicy plum and lovely ripe flavors; supple, balanced and classic; showing lots of lift, nerve and nicely integrated fruit; long and generous.

This is a lovely, fully resolved Merlot. It shows a classy elegance that belies the price. Fully drinkable now, it's softly tannic and rich in cherry, red currant, licorice and mocha flavors that finish dry and spicy.

A fine, complex Merlot, appealing for its array of cherry, smoked meat, balsam, soy and pepper flavors. Shows lots of class and finesse for the price. Easy to find...

This merlot overdelivers: The overall impression is cool and austere, a wine with some class, the fruit maintaining firmness and tension the way a plump cherry is held within its ripe skin. Decant it to let the juicy black cherry flavors emerge from behind the caramel sweetness of oak.

Very rich, ripe and dry, a Merlot with a drop of Cabernet that needs a year or two to resolve. It's fat and fleshy in cherries, violets, red currants and cola, with a dusting of cocoa, pepper and cinnamon. The tannins are ample, but very finely ground.

Smooth and ripe with lovely plum, raspberry and spice; fresh, generous and balanced with a long pure finish.

This is a tremendously rich Merlot, made from top Sonoma vineyards. Dry and tannic, it has potent flavors of cherries, blackberries, currants and cedar. Could develop in the bottle through 2012 with careful cellaring.

With 88 percent French oak and 33 percent of that new, the GR Merlot is evolving into a pretty serious red wine. It's still true to the GR style, glossy but with some subtleties creeping in the mid-palate and back end. Look for a ripe fruit nose flecked with cedar and dried herbs. The flavours are a spicy mix of plums, coffee and tobacco, with a dusting of minerality and floral notes. A rich, glossy style, with some tannin yet to shed.

The seductive 2006 Merlot Taylor Peak exhibits attractive coffee bean, berry fruit, and smoky characteristics. Made from 100% estate grown fruit, and aged 17 months in 100% French oak, it is all that a Merlot should be.