Merlot, which means the Little Blackbird in French, is a dark blue-colored wine grape variety used for both single bottlings and blending. It’s one of the primary grapes used in Bordeaux wine, and it’s the most widely planted grape in that region.

Today, we sampled a producer we’ve not tried before—McIntyre Vineyards from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. First up was the 2016 McIntyre Vineyards Kimberly Merlot that had a lot of lovely black fruits, cassis and plum. It’s a full-bodied wine that leads to grippy tannins and a smooth finish.

Next up, we tried the 2015 McIntyre Vineyards Per Ardua Red Blend from the Santa Lucia Highlands. Yawza! It’s a classic Merlot blend that hits every benchmark note you’d expect…its rich and complex, with layers of cherry, tobacco, plum and chocolate. It finishes with determination and doesn’t hold back—its dusty, with attitude and spice. Lively and lovely for $60!

Highly recommended:
2016 McIntyre Vineyards Kimberly Merlot, Arroyo Seco, California ($28)

2015 McIntyre Vineyards Per Ardua Red Blend from the Santa Lucia Highlands ($60)