I love this merlot! Satisfies the "deep and brooding" craving very well. It boats a dark color and an intense kitchen spiciness, like meatloaf in the oven or something slow cooking in the Dutch oven. Would pair amazingly with these dishes, by the way. The spicy and long finish make you sit back and feel very happy with your wine and food choices.

After tasting a line up of Merlot dominant Bordeaux wines, I tasted the Shafer Napa Merlot. While both are merited in their own right, they are both extremely unique.. The Shafer Merlot was bold with ripe plums and fresh purple flowers. The palate is concentrated and deep with black berry and baking spice. A hint of soft tannin structure keep the wine focused and complex. It is not a wine to be trifle with, but a wine demanding respect and your full attention.

In the 1980's, Merlot was the wine that put Shafer on the map and they've continued to beautifully craft this wine vintage after vintage. Shafer's 2014 Merlot is a flavorful, concentrated wine composed of 78% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich aromatics of dark chocolate, plum, vanilla and wet gravel fill the glass and finishes with soft tannins. Give this Merlot a few years in the cellar and you'll surely be happy with this one!