More Merlots to Try  by Darryl Beeson  Here are some more merlots to consider. Some consider merlot to be a wimpy red; This is not always the case.  Casa Nuestra Merlot, Napa 2000  Price $38  Rating 93  This beautiful red wine boasts rich, concentrated aromas of plum and earthy leather, then a concentrated array of dark luscious fruit flavors within the long, velvet-like length. "Grown right here in front of our winery in St. Helena, this is only our second vintage since planting it in 1991," explains spokesperson Gene Kirkham. "This merlot is wonderfully rich and full-bodied, boasting abundant black current, plum and other rich dark fruit flavors. It has a velvety mouth feel with hints of walnut and vanilla on the lingering finish. This wine is well balanced and structured ideally for aging." He suggests marinated pork tenderloin or French onion soup as a food pairing for this wine.  Casa Nuestra (meaning “Our House”) has a small but very high quality production of 1,500 cases of wine annually since its establishment by the Kirkham family. Gene Kirkham (a.k.a. "the Happy Farmer"), continues to oversee the Kirkham family's operations, now in their 26th year. Long time friend and collaborator, Allen Price is the winemaker. As their production is small, go to the website, www.casanuestra.com, for help in finding a bottle or two.  Grgich Hills Merlot, Napa 2000  Price $38  Rating 92  This is Grgich Hills second release of their well received merlot. This red is concentrated and complex. There are aromas of red fruit, cedar and spice, then flavors of plum, fresh herbs and interesting cocoa. The length of the flavors is long and pleasing. "Try serving this wine with a grilled steak, roast loin of pork with a red berry wine reduction sauce, lamb, eggplant Parmesan, duck confit, or even a wild mushroom risotto," observes Jeramaz. For more information, visit www.grgich.com.  Canoe Ridge Vineyard Merlot, Columbia Valley 2001  Price $20  Rating 90  A full-flavored merlot, rounded and velvety, with interesting notes of red fruit dusted lightly with cocoa powder. The winery suggests pairing this wine with grilled meats and vegetables, such as grilled lamb with rosemary, or even meaty fish like grilled swordfish with garlic mashed potatoes. They also suggest ripe Brie or Camembert with the well balanced merlot.  To learn more, visit www.canoeridgevineyard.com  Carmenet Merlot, Sonoma 2001  Price $20  Rating 87  A sip reveals plummy red fruit with nice, almost zesty, spice and pepper. "With this wine, my focus was the merlot's rich fruit characteristics, highlighted rather than masked by oak," proclaims winemaker Ron Goss. "This wine is a nice match for a variety of dishes ranging from meaty salmon dressed in dill to succulent barbecued ribs or hearty pasta." For more information, go to www.carmenetwinery.com.  Sagelands Vineyards "Four Corners" Merlot, Columbia Valley 2001  Price $12  Rating 86  The Sagelands Vineyards red wines have been past favorites of mine, packed with jammy, complex fruit and attitude, a great value at the price. This bottle is diluted and very simple, and refused to open up 24-hours later. I suspect "bottle shock" during shipping may be the problem, as they track record for Sagelands is to the contrary.  For more great wine suggestions, click here Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Email: jwdineline@aol.com Copyright © 1998 Inter Active Media Solutions. All Rights Reserved. The interactive components of this site require that you use a current browser version of Explorer; be sure to maximize your window out so you can see the entire page. This page was created by Inter Active Media Solutions.