Merlot low down by Darryl Beeson According to anecdotal reports, sales of Merlot dropped due to the following exchange from the 2004 motion picture Sideways: Jack: "If they want to drink Merlot, we're drinking Merlot." Miles Raymond: "No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any (expletive deleted) Merlot!" According to 2005 AC Nielsen analysis, ironically, US sales of Merlot actually increased after the film's release. Drink up and enjoy.   Beaulieu Vineyard Coastal Estates Merlot, California 2004 Price $8.99 Rating 88 The nose is rich with ripe plum and exotic Asian spice. The sip leads with ripe red fruit tapering off with a good finish laced with more spice. More details are at www.bvwines.com.   Beringer Founder's Reserve Merlot, California 2004 Price $11 Rating 87 The nose is concentrated with ripe plum, blackberry and subtle menthol. The sip is bright withred fruit, pepper and hints of menthol.   Chateau St. Jean Merlot, Sonoma County 2004 Price $14 Rating 89 The nose is full of ripe plum. The sip is bright with balanced ripe plum, soft elements of oak, mint and mineral.   Edna Valley Vineyard Merlot, San Luis Obispo, 2004 Price $16.99 Rating 93 The nose is somber with elements of mineral and black fruit. The sipis complex with ripe plum, dark berries and soft mineral in the long, interesting length.   Kenwood Merlot Sonoma County 2004 Price $17 Rating 93 Rich cherry and mocha blend into the bright, complex sip. There are forward aromas of plum, raspberry and dried cranberry, with a hint of white pepper in the background. Flavors of plum and raspberry are light and silky on the palate.   Kenwood Reserve Merlot, Sonoma 2003 Price $25 Rating 94 Bright cherry and complex mineral meld in the sip. it is accented by cinnamon nuances. Similar fruit components dominate the intense flavors, along with a persistent thread of herbal complexity.   Lockwood Merlot, Monterey 2004 Price $13 Rating 90 The nose hints of mint, then red fruit. The sip explodes with bright plum, red fruit and complex mineral in the medium-to-long length finish.   Napa Ridge Reserve Merlot, Napa 2003 Price $20 Rating 91 The nose is concentrated with black fruit and a bit of menthol. The sip presents interesting layers of complexity. An assortment of ripe, dark fruit shows through in the long, delicately spiced length.   Rodney Strong Merlot, Sonoma 2003 Price $19 Rating 89 The sip starts out with wild berries, then exhibits ripe plum. "To some people, merlot may seem like the new kid on the block," suggests renowned wine maker Rick Sayre. "But at Rodney Strong Vineyards we've been growing it since the early 1970's   Sterling Vintner's Collection Merlot, Central Coast 2004 Price $14.99 Rating 90 The nose offers dusty black fruit with a hint of bell pepper. The sip is balanced with ripe red fruit through the good length.   Silverado Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley 2003 Price $30 Rating 93 Spicy aromas of ripe dark cherry, black pepper, sage, with vanilla and butterscotch nuances. Additional elements of tobacco, cocoa powder and a spectrum of dried fruits appear in the long, complex finish.   Veramonte Merlot Reserva, Casablanca 2004 Price $9.99 Rating 92 The color is deep purple. The nose offers black fuit and a slight hint of bell pepper. The sip is complex with dark fruit, mocha, again a hint of bell pepper, all within a rich, long length. 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.