Josh Cellars Merlot
Merlot · California
$14.09
Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot
Sterling Vineyards · California · United States
$21.09
1
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Why it’s a great value
It carries a verified 92-point score from James Suckling at a price under $25. If you want to spend less, Josh Cellars Merlot is $14.09.
Taste profile
SweetnessDry → Sweet
BodyLight → Full
Acidity*Soft → Bright
Tannin*Silky → Grippy
Oak*None → Bold
Fruit*Subtle → Intense
* WineDiscounts editorial estimate based on verified tasting notes.
What it tastes like
Ripe plum, blackberry, dark cherry, mocha, vanilla oak, dried herbs, and a smooth, lightly spicy finish.
You’ll like this if…
Choose this if you like Napa Merlot, softer Cabernet-style reds, Duckhorn Decoy Merlot, Stags' Leap Merlot, or plush California red blends with polished tannins.
Why buy it
It gives Merlot drinkers a Napa Valley bottling from a historic producer at a moderate Napa price, with enough fruit and structure for dinner but an approachable texture for casual sipping.
Best for
Grilled pork, burgers, sausages, roasted poultry, mushroom dishes, and shoppers who want a rounder red than Cabernet Sauvignon.
Style
Dry, plush, medium-full bodied Napa Merlot with ripe dark fruit, moderate oak spice, and polished tannins.
Drinks like
Napa Valley Merlot, California Bordeaux-style red blends, softer Napa Cabernet blends.
Experience level
Easy for newer red-wine drinkers, but with enough Napa character for experienced Merlot fans.
Flavor notes
Pairs well with
Pork: grilled pork chops(winery pick)
Poultry: roasted game hens or roasted duck
Best occasions
Serving & enjoying
- Serving temperature:
- 60-65°F
- Decanting:
- 15-20 minutes if opened young; otherwise pour and enjoy after a few swirls.
- Glassware:
- Bordeaux or other large red wine glass.
- Drink or cellar:
- Drink now; short-term cellaring is reasonable, but WineDiscounts.com should not publish a vintage-specific window without checking the bottle.
- After opening:
- Best within 2-3 days if re-corked and kept cool.
Guidance partly estimated by WineDiscounts from the wine’s style.
About this wine
A plush Napa Valley Merlot from Sterling's Heritage Collection, with ripe plum and dark berry fruit, polished tannins, and a touch of mocha, spice, and oak. Smooth enough to sip on its own, it is especially comfortable with grilled pork, sausages, mushroom dishes, and roasted poultry.
Wine details
- Type
- red
- Varietal
- Merlot
- Grapes
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah: present in the 2021 Heritage Collection blend reviewed by The Napa Wine Project; current-release percentage not verified
- Producer
- Sterling Vineyards
- Country
- United States
- Region
- California
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Bottle size
- 750 Ml
- ABV
- 14.9%
Details last verified September 16, 2026
Explore
Winemaking details ›
- Winemaker:
- Lauren Kopit is identified on Sterling's vineyards page as winemaker.
- Vineyard source:
- Sterling's site says the winery adds fruit grown in a variety of quality vineyards in addition to its estate; specific current-release vineyard sourcing for this Merlot was not verified.
About the winery · Sterling Vineyards ›
Sterling Vineyards was founded in Napa Valley in 1964 by Peter Newton and Michael Stone. The winery emphasizes Bordeaux-inspired Napa wines and states that it bottled the first vintage-dated Napa Valley Merlot in 1969. Its hilltop Calistoga winery is known for its white, Mykonos-inspired architecture and aerial gondola. The winery reopened hospitality spaces in 2023 after damage from the 2020 Glass Fire and states that the property is powered by 100% renewable electricity.
Critic reviews
92/100James Suckling
“Plummy aromas of redcurrants, ripe red cherries and licorice; full-bodied with silky tannins and juicy fruit.”
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot dry or sweet?
- Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot is bone dry — its sweetness rating is 1 on our 1 (bone dry) to 5 (sweet) scale. It is medium-to-full bodied.
- What does Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot taste like?
- Ripe plum, blackberry, dark cherry, mocha, vanilla oak, dried herbs, and a smooth, lightly spicy finish.
- What food pairs with Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot?
- It pairs well with grilled pork chops, grilled sausages, black bean or vegetable burgers, roasted game hens or roasted duck and mushroom pasta or mushroom risotto.
- How should I serve Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot?
- Serve at 60-65°F. 15-20 minutes if opened young; otherwise pour and enjoy after a few swirls. Glass: Bordeaux or other large red wine glass.
- Is Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot a good value?
- At $21.09 it carries a verified 92-point score from James Suckling; the review is shown on this page.
- Is there a similar wine that costs less than Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot?
- Josh Cellars Merlot is a comparable Merlot at $14.09. See Josh Cellars Merlot
- What is the bottle size and alcohol content of Sterling Vineyards Napa Merlot?
- 750 ml bottle, 14.9% alcohol by volume.