When we moved to Arizona in 2000, most of our friends were dedicated Merlot fans. Unfortunately, much of what we tasted back then felt flabby and uninspiring — the result of overcropping by many large California producers.
That impression shifted dramatically on our first visit to Napa Valley 🍇, where we discovered a small Calistoga winery crafting Merlot with finesse: red currant and cherry aromatics 🍒, a whisper of cedar 🌲, lively acidity, and a smooth tannic backbone. Suddenly, Merlot had our attention.
Today, Merlot has shaken off its Sideways stigma and is finding new life in regions like British Columbia 🍁. Here in the Okanagan and Similkameen, Merlot thrives in the warm days and cool nights, producing wines with ripe fruit, elegant structure, and that velvety texture ✨ the grape is famous for.
For an excellent perspective on Merlot’s revival, check out The Curse Is Over: Wine Drinkers Are Opting for Velvety Merlot. And for broader context on this once-maligned grape, see Forget Sideways, Merlot Is Bigger Than Ever! 🍷
BC Merlot Trends
Top 12 Best Value BC Merlot
Township 7 Provenance Series Merlot 2022
“This vintage blends Merlot from our North Oliver Bench’s Blue Terrace Vineyard and Front Yard Vineyard in Naramata. The rocky soils of Oliver yield high-quality grapes, while those from Okanagan Falls lend added complexity and structure. A two-week maceration at warm temperatures, using remontage, pipeage, and pulsair techniques, achieved a rich fruit extraction with smooth tannins. The wine was then aged for 18 months in 67% French and 33% American oak barrels, adding layers of caramel and vanilla to balance the full-bodied mouthfeel and enhancing its structure.” Township 7 Winemaker, Mary McDermott
Alcohol 14% | pH 3.58 | TA 6.5 g/l | RS 2.5 g/l
A rich Merlot with aromas of blackberry, cedar and baking spices. Flavours of black cherry, red plum, toasted oak, dark chocolate, caramel and vanilla with earthy notes and firm tannins. The wine is complex and has a long finish. 91 Points
Try with a roasted pork loin and plum sauce or grilled mushroom burgers.
Church and State Merlot 2019
Fermentation and maceration in stainless steel tanks for 20 days. Aged in French oak for 12 months with 15% new oak.
Alcohol 15% |TA 5.3 g/L | RS 2.7 g/L
A bold dark ruby red in colour. The wine opens with an explosion of black fruit aromas. Flavours of ripe black cherries, blackberry jam, cloves, espresso, leather and savoury notes. Full-bodied with ripe soft tannins. 90 Points.
Pairs well with hamburgers, slow-braised short ribs and Beetroot and Fennel Gratin.
River Stone Small Lot Merlot 2022
Rich, expressive aromas of dark plum, blackberry compote and black cherry leap from the glass, intertwined with layers of cocoa, roasted coffee, vanilla and sweet baking spice from the wine’s extended French oak maturation. The palate is remarkably concentrated and deeply flavoured, delivering wave after wave of blackberry, black currant, blueberry and dark plum wrapped around a core of elegant structure and refined tannins. Despite its impressive intensity, the wine remains beautifully balanced, with a silky, polished mouthfeel that carries through to a long, lingering finish marked by notes of mocha, spice and subtle oak complexity. A powerful yet poised Merlot that showcases both richness and finesse. 93 Points
Mayhem Anarchy Merlot 2022 ($45)
Alcohol 14.60% / pH 3.58 / TA 6.54 / RS 0.58
This is a bold but smooth Merlot. The colour is dark and inky. Vibrant aromas of black fruit with floral notes and sage. Flavours of black cherry, dark plum, cassis and dark chocolate with a hint of tobacco. A rich, full-bodied Merlot with well-balanced acidity, velvet smooth tannins and a lovely long finish. The wine will age well, so drink or store it in the cellar. 93 points.
Bottega Merlot 2023 ($54)
The grapes are sourced from a small vineyard in Osoyoos. A classic Merlot crafted in the traditional style with meticulous hands-on winemaking throughout. Hand-picked fruit underwent extended maceration and basket pressing before aging for 16 months in third-fill French oak. Unfined and lightly filtered.
A rich, polished Merlot that opens beautifully after a short decant. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice, and leather rise from the glass.
The palate is layered and savoury, revealing blackberry, black cherry, mocha, and dried herbs wrapped in a supple, creamy texture. Fine-grained tannins and balanced acidity bring definition and length, while a touch of Cabernet Franc provides backbone, adding freshness and tension to the Merlot’s generous fruit profile.
This handcrafted Merlot should continue to evolve gracefully over the next 5–10 years. 92+ Points
Four Shadows Merlot 2020 ($26.99)
15.1% Alcohol / pH 3.49 / TA 6.23 / RS 3.66 267 cases were produced.
Aromas of black fruit. A bold full-bodied Merlot with flavours of black currants, blackberries, plum and dark chocolate with beautifully integrated oak leading to a hint of vanilla. Smooth ripe tannins with a lengthy finish. Enjoy with your favourite BBQ beef. 92 Points
Silver Medal winner at the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.
Castoro de Oro Merlot
A big bold wine, full-bodied with a dense garnet red colour. Aromas of blueberry, black cherry and cocoa. On the palate, raisin, blackberries, stewed plum, dark chocolate and leather with a hint of nutmeg. Silky smooth tannins and a long finish. Ready to drink right now. 91 Points
Golden Mile Merlot in a can with Pizza, BBQ steak or Burgers. It doesn’t get any better!
The Merlot was named one of the Judge’s Selection Top Seven Merlot at the 2021 Alberta Beverage Awards!
You can order this excellent value BC Merlot by visiting the Castoro de Oro Estate Winery website.
Vasanti Merlot 2021 ($34.49)
The grapes are grown at the estate Paradise block of Monarch Vineyards in Northern Oliver and harvested at 24 brix. The juice from the crushed grapes was fermented in Stainless Steel tanks with three daily pump-overs. The wine was aged for 19 months in 25% new American Oak barrels and 75% Neutral Oak barrels (a combination of French & American)
13.6% Alcohol. The colour is dark and inky. Vibrant aromas of black fruit with floral notes of violet and sage. Flavours of black cherry, dark plum, leather, cigar and black pepper. A medium to full-bodied Merlot with grippy tannins that add depth and complexity. The wine will age well and impress more with time. 92 points.
Quails’ Gate 2024 PLUME Merlot (Winery Direct | $37)
The Merlot was sourced from the Sagemoor Block in Washington’s White Bluffs AVA, a warm, windswept site overlooking the Columbia River. Its sloping vineyards and freely draining, flood-influenced sandy and silty loam soils provide ideal conditions for producing deeply concentrated, structured Merlot. After hand harvesting, each lot was fermented separately in stainless steel before aging for 16 months in French oak barrels.
Deep, dark ruby in colour, with intense aromas of blackberry, black plum, tobacco leaf and cedar. Opulent and broad-shouldered, the palate delivers concentrated black plum and blackberry layered with dark chocolate, graphite and a distinctive chalk-dust minerality. The mouthfeel is wonderfully plush, expansive and delicious, yet the wine retains excellent balance and definition. Firm, powdery tannins frame the abundant dark fruit and carry it through a long, structured, mineral-edged finish. An exceptional Washington fruit Merlot. 93 Points.
Nostalgia Merlot 2018 ($33)
95% Merlot (3% Harfman Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Gablemann Malbec)
Aged 14 months in oak barriques (French and American)
Alcohol 13.7% | pH 3.51 | TA 6.2 | RS 0.4
The Merlot is young and dynamic so decant before tasting or cellar. Aromas of black fruit and coffee. Flavours of black cherry, juicy black plum, blackberry, dark chocolate with a hint of espresso and cedar and a lovely long finish. The texture is velvety with supple tannins lifted by vibrant acidity. 91 Points
Hester Creek Old Vine Merlot 2020 ($27.99)
Crafted with grapes from Block 2 of the Golden Mile Bench estate vineyard, the Old Vine Merlot is made from vines, a half-century old.
14.6% Alcohol, pH 3.86, TA 6.3 g/L, RS 0.27 g/L.
A bold, fruit-forward Merlot with a mouthfeel of amazing depth. The wine opens with lively aromas of red plum and black fruit. On the palate, ripe black cherry, black currant, and more plum with a hint of tobacco and toasty oak. The structure is multi-dimensional with smooth tannins and a lengthy finish. 92 points
Fantastic fruit and structure. Pair the Merlot with BBQ pork tenderloin topped with grilled Okanagan cherries.
As a bonus, here is a BC Merlot from the Creston Valley.
Wynnwood Merlot 2021
My friend Terry picked up a bottle of Merlot from Wynnwood Cellars while cycling in the Creston area. 2021 was a difficult growing season, marked by wildfire smoke and extreme heat.
This approachable Merlot offers inviting aromas of dark berries, complemented by delicate floral hints and a touch of sage. On the palate, it reveals rich flavours of black cherry, dark plum, leather, and a subtle black pepper spice. Medium-plus in body, this wine features smooth, fine-grained tannins and a well-balanced finish. 88 points.
Note: Updated with recent vintages in August, 2026