Whether it's a pizza night or drinks with friends, few wines offer so much bang for so little as Merlot, as this year's best value line-up show.
Merlot is a funny grape in that on its own it rarely reaches the dizzying heights of acclaim as its frequent stable-mate Cabernet Sauvignon, but it never quite fades out of style either. Being both plush, lush and jammy with hints of cherry, plum and chocolate, it can hit all the right notes.
It can produce both the people-pleasers that go hand in hand with chili for a crowd, to wines that that bask in decades-long reverence – Petrus, we're looking at you.
However, when it comes to this list, we're looking distinctly at the lower-end of the scale – the world's best value. And when it comes to value, Merlot has it in spades.
One last factor that makes this list interesting – bar the impressive aggregated critic scores and incredibly agreeable prices – are the regions featured. Fairly evenly split between the Old World and the New, Bordeaux – for all its swank and pomp – is not above producing some really high-quality but crucially affordable reds.
It's worth noting that we calculate the value for money by dividing the aggregated critic scores – which, in this case, all lurk impressively in the early-to-mid-90s – by the price, with the most expensive hovering around USD 19. Once divided, the higher the number – the more times the price fits within the score – the better the value.
As a result, the below 10 wines have been rearranged according to the number with the highest first.
Best Value Merlot on Wine-Searcher:
Galloping into first place is the 2017 Dark Horse by Californian behemoth E. & J. Gallo. The label rather lives up to its name, saying very little other than "flavourful", "vibrant" and "aromatic". However, what can be said is the wine has a pretty impressive critic score of 91 points, for an even more attractive price point of USD 9, giving it a final best value tally north of 10. It's also reasonably available – tick, tick and tick.
In second place is the 2005 Hayman & Hill Reserve Selection Merlot from California's Napa Valley. Like the Dark Horse, information regarding Hayman & Hill appears thin on the ground. However, Wine Enthusiast described it as being both earthy and herbaceous, "with suggestions of cherries and red currants, and a rich scour of tannins. All that gives it a real Bordeaux quality." With an aggregated critic score of 90 points, along with the phenomenal price tag of USD 10, this wine scores an impressive best value factor, making it very hard to go wrong.
From an almost-Bordeaux to a genuine Bordeaux, nabbing third spot is the 2015 Château Rouzerol by Right Bank-based cooperative, Union de Producteurs de Saint-Émilion. Established in 1931, the cooperative was the result of the efforts of Robert Villepigue, a key wine-maker in early 20th-Century Saint-Émilion. Today, the union is responsible for 12 percent of all production from Saint-Émilion.
The 2015 Château Rouzerol also has a grand score of 90 points, all for USD 11 giving it a best value factor of 8.18 – proving there's value to be had even in that most revered of French regions.
Number four is the only rosé to make this list, the 2022 The Jules Rosé by Jules Taylor. The winery was founded by Jules Taylor in 2001 in New Zealand's Marlborough, the region where she grew up. Taylor, having worked all over the world, brings strong influences from Italy and Australia to her wines.
The rosé – with its rather attractive label of a hand entwined in roses, not unlike the Victorian symbols of courtly love. Wine Enthusiast described the wine as having "a fresh, appealing perfume of strawberry and cream, with a gently spiced bass note, leads to a dry, creamy-textured palate that's fresh with a tickle of raspberry succulence".
With a critic score of 92, and a very attractive price of USD 14, this elegant number comes in with a best value factor of 6.57.
Halfway through this delightful Merlot-fest, we have the 2020 La Playa Estate Series Merlot. Hailing from Chile's Colchagua Valley, the winery takes full advantage of the region's perfect grape-growing climate – warm days cooled by the Pacific ocean and the rivers that wind through the valley.
La Playa Estate Merlot has, as a result, scored a very attractive 90 points, and is reasonably available at USD 14, giving it a best value score of 6.42.
Sixth in line is the 2019 Villa Poggio Salvi Lavischio Merlot Toscana IGT from Tuscany's Villa Poggio Salvi. The estate has been owned by the Tagliabue family since 1979, although wine-growing dates back to the 16th century. Adorned with the image of Pomona – the Roman Goddess of plenty – the wine itself has a score of 90 points, and a price tag of USD 14. The end result is a best value score of 6.42, a gift from the gods indeed.
Lucky number seven is our final Bordeaux, the 2015 Château Le Peyrat. The wine is an entry-level offering from Paul , who manages Château Valade in Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux, and hits all the right notes.
Wine Enthusiast described it as "finely balanced – an impressive mix of ripe fruit and rich tannins. A smoky character envelops its rich blackberry and plum flavors, all underlined with tannins. It needs to age and will be best from 2020." With a very impressive score of 92, and a price tag of USD 15, this Bordeaux is a winner with a best value score of 6.13.
Number eight is the 2020 Charles Smith Wines The Velvet Devil Merlot. A former rock manager, Charles Smith has made his Washington-based wine venture a roaring success and his tribute to Beelzebub himself is no different.
With a glittering score of 93 points, and a price-point of USD 17, this Merlot scores a best value ranking of 5.47, not bad for a fallen angel.
Number nine sees a return to Italy with the 2014 Volpe Pasini Togliano Merlot Colli Orientali del Friuli. Volpe Pasini in Colli Orientali del Friuli goes by the mantra that "certain memories are enough to perfume a soul forever", whatever that's supposed to mean.
The estate is known for their fresh, vibrant wines and the Togliano is no different boasting an elegant but intense character with notes of blackberry and raspberry. With a critic score of 90, and a price-point of USD 17, this Italian number sails off into the sunset with a best value score of 5.29.
Last but by no means least, is the 2014 Noble Vines 181 Merlot. Noble Vines, based in sunny California, is owned by the wine giant Delicato Family Vineyards and is known for producing popular, affordable wines. Along with great wines, they also support charity initiatives and are currently partnered with the group No Kid Hungry.
Regarding the 181 Merlot, Wine Enthusiast wrote "attractive roasted, smoky aromas join ripe plum and blackberry flavors in this full-bodied, broadly textured wine. It's a great value…" and at USD 19 with a score of 90, we would have to agree, giving it a best value ranking of 4.73.
All in all, 2024's best value Merlot offer all the rich, ripe spicy red berry and brooding fruit notes at cut prices. Need something to wash that pizza down? Look no futher than a bottle of good old-fashioned Merlot.
Source: Wine-Searcher