If you know where to look, and Swanson is certainly a good place to start, Merlot from a good vintage is the best value in red wine from the Napa Valley. In the land where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Merlot often gets either short shrift or tossed into a Bordeaux-style blend. Swanson has always had a deft hand with Merlot and the 2013 vintage was stellar. Notes of plum, dark cherry and cassis dominate, with a note of cedar and graphite and firm but nicely integrated tannins. The finish shows a touch of oak vanillin.
Swanson Vineyards, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2013
By Robert Whitley