Always on the lookout for inexpensive examples of my (the Bad Man) favourite varietal, Merlot, I assembled the worthy locally and currently available Merlots that were well under $10. You’ve seen a lot of lists of wines for “under $10″, but those invariably at the grocer seem to be more like $11 or $12. So these three stalwart Merlots are indeed well under $10, ringing in at $8, $7, and $6. Can’t beat that, now can you? If you can, please leave the wine name in the comment below so as to share the wealth!
Tasting Blind, as always!
Okay, so the contenders are:
McManis Family Vineyards California Merlot, 2008, 13.5% abv, $7.99
Challis Lane California Merlot, 2007, 13.5% abv, $5.99
Red Diamond Washington State Merlot, 2007, 13.5% abv, $6.99
Ringer (a quality cheap table red I’ve found consistently drinkable):
Challis Lane California Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008, 13.5% abv, $6.99
Up until about a year ago I would have assumed that Cabernet Sauvignon was my favourite varietal, but after spending some time with Merlot, and thank you in part to that awful movie Sideways, I now realize that (with some notable exceptions, like Caymus Special Select and Château Margaux Margaux) Merlot really is overall my favourite due to its potential to embrace the dark fruit profile, the typical lush mouth filling accessibility, and the structure without compromise. I find Cabernet Sauvignon might be a sacrifice on the mouthfeel in all but the finest examples, but I intend no disrespect to Cabernet Sauvignon.
So I poured these four and let them sit to ponder themselves a while, and then dove in. Alas my dear and gentle readers, I did not take copious notes, or notes of any sort, as I’ll save that for a group tasting in the form of an assaggio majoralus once upon a future tyme; but I’ll encapsulate my thoughts and memories here as best I can, it having been a week or so ago now.
The McManis Merlot is a very fine Merlot, having notes of red fruit and cherry on the aroma, some herbaceousness in the bouquet, some fine tannins, and solid red fruit. I tasted this over several days and it definitely held its own.
The Challis Lane Merlot is soft and a tad too delicate, for lack of a better word, but unfortunately isn’t quite there when compared to these other wines. It possessed that zingy effervescent mouthfeel typically found in Zins that are down for the count, and probably Rhone and Italian lighter reds to boot. At this price point it is no slouch, and is a fine albeit thin red table wine for your dollar(s).
The Challis Lane Cabernet Sauvignon is a frequent participant in my knightly (and nightly) feasts, but it showed its more austere less fruit forward leanings, coming across as oily against the rich mouthfeel of both the McManis and Red Diamond Merlots. A great Cali Cabernet Sauvignon for the price to be sure, as you can get it at BevMo for $4.20 including tax when it goes on their 5-cent sale time and again.
The Red Diamond Washington State Merlot had it all – that rich full mouthfeel, a beautiful sweet finish, and might I add a most surprisingly decadent nose of inky black dark fruit – cassis, black currant, licorice, tobacco, and earth. Tasted over several nights, and multiple bottles sampled on several occasions, this has become my go-to super-affordable Merlot.
What think ye? What Merlots have you been up to? Generous commenting available below… 
05/09/2009 at 12:14 pm Permalink
Thanks for doing the “legwork” BadMan. I was all set to purchase some Challis Lane Merlot on the Vintner Partner savings at BevMo but will shift my purchasing sights to the Red Diamond instead.
And to add to your list of Cab Sauv shortcomings, especially in Napa cabs, let’s not forget the offensive and often way too present fresh green pepper nose and bite. I’m much more drawn to the rich, dark, sometimes even chocolaty elements of a Merlot; Miles be damned, the little effete bastard!