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Toasted Head Merlot

Toasted Head · California · United States

$7.99$10.99 save $3.00 (27%)
1

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Why it’s a great value

Toasted Head Merlot is $7.99 today against a recorded compare-at price of $10.99 — a saving of $3.00 (27%). The next step up in the same style, Josh Cellars Merlot, is $14.99.

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 cherry and dark berry fruit wrapped in sweet toasty oak, with vanilla, graham cracker, a little smoke and a chocolate note on the finish. The texture is plush and round rather than firm or grippy.

You’ll like this if…

You like soft, oaky, fruit-forward California reds and reach for bottles such as an everyday Cabernet or a smooth red blend rather than lean, earthy European reds.

Why buy it

At this price it delivers the full oak-and-ripe-fruit California style that many shoppers are looking for, with soft tannins that make it easy to pour for a mixed group.

Best for

Weeknight dinners, casual entertaining and anything off the grill.

Style

Full-flavored, softly structured, oak-driven California Merlot with a touch of Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon for backbone.

Drinks like

Sits alongside other approachable oak-aged California Merlots and smooth red blends in the $10-15 range.

Experience level

Beginner-friendly; no decanting knowledge or cellaring required.

Flavor notes

Fruitcherryblack fruitscherry pie
Oakvanillagraham crackertoastcedar
Spicegingercedar spice
Othersmokechocolate

Pairs well with

lasagna and other baked italian dishes · herb baked chicken with a garlic cream reduction · burgers off the grill, especially with smoked cheddar or blue cheese · baby back ribs or pulled pork with a tomato-based sauce · aged gouda or a mild blue · mushroom risotto or eggplant parmesan

Best occasions

Weeknight pasta or pizza nightCasual dinner party where you need a crowd-pleasing redBackyard grilling and game dayEveryday house red under $15

Serving & enjoying

Serving temperature:
60-65F (about 20 minutes out of the fridge)
Decanting:
Not required; 15-20 minutes in the glass or a quick decant softens the oak
Glassware:
Standard Bordeaux-style red glass with a wide bowl
Drink or cellar:
Made to drink on release; enjoy within a couple of years of purchase
After opening:
Recork and refrigerate; good for 2-3 days

Guidance partly estimated by WineDiscounts from the wine’s style.

About this wine

A generous, oak-framed California Merlot with cherry and black fruit aromas lifted by vanilla, graham cracker and a hint of cedar spice. The palate is big and soft, with rich dark fruit and cherry pie rounded out by smoke and chocolate.

Wine details

Type
red
Varietal
Merlot
Grapes
91% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Producer
Toasted Head
Country
United States
Region
California
Appellation
California
Bottle size
750 Ml
ABV
13.5%

Details last verified September 18, 2026

Explore

Winemaking details ›
Vineyard source:
Fruit sourced from vineyards in Mendocino and Lake Counties, chosen for good sun exposure, clay-bearing soils that hold moisture and keep the earth cooler, and cool nights
Vessel:
Crushed and immediately inoculated for a vigorous, warm fermentation in stainless steel tanks for 7 to 14 days to extract color and flavor; malolactic fermentation also in stainless steel
About the winery · Toasted Head ›

Toasted Head takes its name from the age-old practice of toasting the inside of barrel heads and staves with fire, which gives barrel-aged wines their mellow, toasted character. The brand began making wines at vineyards in the Dunnigan Hills of Yolo County, California in 1995, in a rural stretch between Napa County to the west and Sacramento County to the east. The fire-breathing bear on the label was inspired by a drawing by artist Robert Shetterly for the poem 'Speaking Fire at Stones' by William Carpenter. Today the wines carry a broader California appellation, with the Merlot drawn from Mendocino and Lake County vineyards. The lineup is small and focused: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and the Untamed Red blend.

Trade up

Josh Cellars Merlot

Merlot · California

$14.99

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Frequently asked questions

Is Toasted Head Merlot dry or sweet?
Toasted Head Merlot is dry — its sweetness rating is 2 on our 1 (bone dry) to 5 (sweet) scale. It is medium-to-full bodied.
What does Toasted Head Merlot taste like?
Ripe cherry and dark berry fruit wrapped in sweet toasty oak, with vanilla, graham cracker, a little smoke and a chocolate note on the finish. The texture is plush and round rather than firm or grippy.
What food pairs with Toasted Head Merlot?
It pairs well with Lasagna and other baked Italian dishes, Herb baked chicken with a garlic cream reduction, Burgers off the grill, especially with smoked cheddar or blue cheese, Baby back ribs or pulled pork with a tomato-based sauce and Aged gouda or a mild blue.
How should I serve Toasted Head Merlot?
Serve at 60-65F (about 20 minutes out of the fridge). Not required; 15-20 minutes in the glass or a quick decant softens the oak. Glass: Standard Bordeaux-style red glass with a wide bowl.
Is Toasted Head Merlot a good value?
Today it is $7.99, $3.00 (27%) below its recorded compare-at price of $10.99.
What is the bottle size and alcohol content of Toasted Head Merlot?
750 ml bottle, 13.5% alcohol by volume.