Here's a Merlot that is wonderfully complex, with an intriguing mix of black plum, black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, eucalyptus and espresso. It should soften with time.

Made from grapes grown in Sonoma County's cool Bennett Valley, this merlot is much more accessible than the Grizz Ridge, with lush plummy fruit and well-modulated oak.

A muscular blend of fruit from three counties; shows more depth than most California efforts.

offers attractive currant and mocha-infused fruit. Drink this medium-bodied Merlot over the the next 4-5 years.

sweet oak and mint aromas, voluptuous.

dry, medium-bodied, medium tannin, high acidity. A study in black cherries, berries, and plums, with a dark mineral underside.

Rich black cherry flavors and a healthy dose of chocolate dominate this full-bodied merlot from one of California's largest wine producers. The wine fits neatly into Merlot's flavor profile and even without a lot of distinction represents a well-structured, food-friendly reserve merlot at a reasonable price.

A polished wine, Kendall-Jackson's 2001 Vintner's Reserve Merlot is unusually complex for California merlot, which all too often are one-dimensional and jammy. Its ripe plum-like flavors intermingled with earthy spiciness make it an excellent choice for a holiday roast.

Exceptionally popular, perhaps due to its supple, sweet fruit and generous vanilla component.

Aromas, flavors of cherry, currant, cedar, fennel. Toasty oak. Medium-bodied. Integrated tannins. Good structure.

Some maturity. Cherry/plum fruit. Quite deep and firm. Light plum and cherry overtones on mid palate. Fat and full. 5-10 years.

Merlot comes across with plenty of life and more complexity than found in earlier years. The juice was cold soaked and the wine macerated on the skins after fermentation. It was aged for 17 months in small oak with 12% new barrels. Pretty in the glass, it shows assertive cherry and blackberry fruit, along with notes of cedar and spice. Medium-bodied, the flavours echo the aroma but are carried by cassis and definite soft tannins. Unlike so many cookie cutter, overly juicy Merlots in this price range, this one can be enjoyed now, or cellared for 3-4 years.

very clean and decently balanced wine

Deep ruby with purple rim. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted. Quite tannic. Smoke, black fruit. Powerful oak and tannins dominate the fruit in this intense, mouthdrying style.

The tar aroma is typical of Nebbiolo, plus there's a hint of tobacco and leather. Flavors are tightly wound.

Wines of the Week Kendall Jackson sources fruit from premium vineyards in the coastal growing region of Santa Barbara County to craft this complex GSM blend showing fruit flavors of juicy cherry and pomegranate with a cocoon of toasty cedar and slivers of dark chocolate.

Bold red and black fruit, spice, sturdy acidity, supple tannins - this baby fires on all cylinders. It's a blend of mostly Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot, with some Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and other varieties. The fruit is lush and rich, woven with spice and alcohol and wood. Winemaster Randy Ullom writes that it brings a smile to your face - that was my thought exactly.

This blend leads with feisty black cherry, followed by raspberry and a kick of cracked black pepper. It's tasty, bold and approachable. Tangy finish. A nice, less expensive option.

2013 Avant Red Blend by Kendall-Jackson, Calif. (50 percent merlot, 22 percent syrah, 9 percent cabernet sauvignon, 9 percent malbec, 7 percent petite sirah, 3 percent carignan and others): soft and smooth, with aromas and flavors of red raspberries and milk chocolate.

Let’s Talk Wine: Enjoying red, red wine blends Together syrah, cabernet sauvignon and malbec with a solid base of merlot. Soft tannins with layers of plum, raspberry, strawberry, pomegranate, and hints of vanilla and chocolate, combine to create a wine that is smooth and fruit-forward.

California is this bottle's origin, with grapes from five counties — half merlot, 22 percent syrah, and smaller amounts of cabernet sauvignon, malbec, petite sirah, carignan and other. I promise you, those are grapes. This wine has plum, raspberry, licorice and a hint of spice.