Benziger

2006 Signaterra Three Blocks Sonoma Valley ($49). A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (64%) and Merlot, this rich, delicious blend offers layers of deep plum, concentrated black currant, and ripe cherry, along with coffee, rich milk chocolate, dried herbs and light earthy notes. Full bodied, with a supple, elegant finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 4-5 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-08-09)

1997 Rancho Salina Red Table Wine ($35). We’re all hyped up about California red Bordeaux blends these days, and this is a very nice example. This one is about 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and 20% Cab Franc. It is rich and heady with concentrated fruit like ripe plum, cherry, and red currant, and it has earthy accents alongside the solid oak notes. Delicious now and should age well for the next few years. Wonderful with hearty, cold weather comfort foods. (Weekend Wine, 01/01)

Beringer

Bernardus 1997 Marinus Carmel Valley ($46). Marinus is Bernardus’ Bordeaux blend. The 1997 is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), with Merlot (18%), Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Although I thought this was a tasty wine, I didn’t think it came close to justifying the fairly steep price tag. Enjoyable, medium-bodied, and showing ripe fruit and spice, but the finish stopped a bit short. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. (Weekend Wine, 12/01)

Burgess Cellars 1997 Enveiere Napa Valley ($85). This is the first vintage of this red Meritage, and it is a blockbuster success. Concentrated and intense, it shows concentrated black cherry, plum, and berry fruit with plenty of oak and cedar and sophisticated herb flavors. It is outstanding now and should only continue to improve with age. Can cellar easily for 10 years. (Weekend Wine, 02/01)

Byington 1999 Alliage Sonoma County ($21). A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Cherry and cassis fruit on a medium-bodied frame, with nutmeg, smoke and herbal notes. Ready to drink now and over the next three years. (Weekend Wine, 11/02)

Canoe Ridge 2004 Red Wine Columbia Valley ($15). Plummy, with pretty floral and fresh herb notes, picking up fig and vanilla through the moderate finish. Nice interest and complexity at this price point. A blend of Merlot (75%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (25%). Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. (Winery Spotlight 10/06)

Casa Nuestra

2000 Meritage Napa Valley St. Helena Estate ($45). Merlot (70%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) blend seamlessly and produce smooth red cherry and plum fruit with milk chocolate, heather and roasted nut accents. Long, supple finish. Very food-friendly. Easy to enjoy now and over the next five or six years. (Winery Spotlight, 04/03)

1997 Quixote ($23). This is a classic Bordeaux blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Franc (31%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (9%). And it is delicious. Medium bodied and smooth, featuring cherry, red currant, and chocolate flavors with a pronounced herbal, earthy note. Drink now and over the next four or five years. (Weekend Wine, 01/01)

Clos du Bois 2001 Marlstone Alexander Valley ($39). A rich, complex blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this California red offers aromatic dark chocolate and leather accents to velvety black cherry and currant fruit. Very good now and over the next three or four years. (Weekend Wine 04/05)

deLorimier Winery

1999 Mosaic Meritage Alexander Valley ($30). Full-bodied and with plenty of tannic backbone, this wine features currant and red cherry fruit, with milk chocolate, herbal notes and toasty oak. Could use a bit more bottle time to smooth out the tannins. Drink from 2004-2008. (Robyn’s Picks, 10/02)

1997 Mosaic Red Meritage Alexander Valley ($28). Founders Al and Sandy deLorimier are committed to the concept that a well-crafted blend is superior to a varietal wine due to the unique contributions of each grape in the blend and the resulting complexities that cannot be found in a varietal wine. This Mosaic is a very good example. It is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, and it is an excellent wine. Concentrated and rich, with a velvety texture, and featuring black cherry and berry fruit with coffee and cola accents, this wine is approachable now and has the potential to age for at least another five years. (Weekend Wine, 11/00)

Dry Creek Vineyard 1999 Meritage Dry Creek Valley ($28). Spicy blackberry bouquet leads to rich red currant, black plum, and cherry fruit with clove and licorice accents. Nicely balanced, rich but still elegant, with a ripe, generous finish. Delicious. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. (Robyn’s Picks, 10/02)

EOS 2001 French Connection Paso Robles ($20). Delicious Meritage blend (58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot), with medium-bodied ripe red cherry and plum fruit laced with mint and spicy notes. Nice tannic structure and finish. Very enjoyable overall package. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (Party Planning, 02/04)

Flora Springs 1999 Trilogy Napa Valley ($60). Deep reddish purple color and appealing spicy cherry bouquet introduce concentrated black cherry and berry flavors that are layered with rich chocolate, smoke and herbal notes. Picks up light vanilla extract on the luxurious finish. Very good now and should age nicely for at least six or seven years. (Robyn’s Picks, 10/02)

Hayman & Hill 2004 Meritage Monterey County ($14). Just an unbelievable deal here – pretty and aromatic, with smooth, rich red cherry and berry flavors laced with mocha, smoke, black pepper and toasty oak. Balanced, with a long finish. Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine 10/06)

IO 2000 Santa Barbara County ($60). Concentrated color, bouquet and flavors on a plush, silky frame. Black currant, blueberry, white pepper, tobacco, mineral and a light touch of mint. Nice acidity and a lingering finish. Very good. Ready to drink now and over the next five or six years. (Splurge Wine, 04/04)

Joseph Phelps 2000 Insignia Napa Valley ($137). A super splurge! But a beautiful wine, with deep, rich, concentrated blackberry and black cherry fruit layered with creamy chocolate, warm spices, tobacco and a light mineral note. Lush from start to lingering finish. Should age beautifully. Tempting now and over the next ten years. (Splurge Wine, 04/04)

Justin 2001 Justification Paso Robles ($37). Blend of Cabernet Franc (71%) and Merlot (29%) offers smooth black cherry and wild blueberry fruit laced with violet, earth and mint notes. Lovely, smooth and perfumed wine. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (Weekend Wine, 07/03)

Matrix 2005 Bordeaux Blend Dry Creek Valley ($36). A rich but still balanced example of a Bordeaux blend (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot), with blackberry and black currant fruit leading the way, along with notes of bittersweet chocolate, mocha, tobacco and anise. With a long, appealing finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 2-3 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-06-18)

Murrieta’s Well

($35). Supple, Bordeaux-style blend (67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc). Enjoyed the smooth, fine tannins — this is not just another big Reserve Cabernet masquerading as a Meritage. Elegant black plum and cherry flavors mingle with cigar box spices, mint and smooth vanilla. Ready to drink now and over the next five or six years. Nice acidity makes this quite versatile with food, but we think something like a steak au poivre might be ideal. (Weekend Wine 05/06)

2005 Red Meritage Livermore Valley ($36). An elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (22%), Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Offering smooth, deep plum and blackberry aromas and flavors laced with warm spices, black tea, and just a touch of rich chocolate. Nicely integrated oak; good balance all around. Pretty, focused finish. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (World Wide Wine 08/08)

2003 Red Meritage Livermore Valley Vendimia

Norman 1996 No Nonsense Red Paso Robles Claret ($12-$15). A blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cab Franc, and you have to like the name! This is really great for drinking now, has a beautiful crimson hue, and a bright fruity taste. I think you’ll like it! (Richard’s Picks, 6/99)

Quintessa 2000 Rutherford ($110). Substantial tannic structure holds up equal portions of rich, concentrated blackberry and plum fruit and funky, earthy aromas and flavors. Picks up sweet tobacco and anise accents on the finish. A really big, powerfully structured wine. Drink now (decant first!) and over the next 6-8 years. (Splurge Wine, 04/04)

Robert Craig

Robert Hall 2004 Meritage Paso Robles ($40) Supple black cherry and plum fruit aromas and flavors are laced with dusty cocoa, a light touch of cedar and baking spices. Nice length maintains richness. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (Picks & Nibbles 04/08)

Spring Mountain 2001 Elivette Napa Valley ($90). Mostly Cabernet (89%), with Merlot and Petit Verdot making up the balance, this is a rich, powerful wine that offers deeply concentrated blackberry and cherry flavors and aromas layered with spicy, toasty oak throughout along with green olive, espresso and a touch of sage. Absolutely delicious! Ready to drink now and over the next six or seven years. (Weekend Wine, 11/04)

St. Clement

St. Supery

Stonestreet 1997 Legacy Red Meritage ($60). Wow, this was a fantastic wine. A wine list splurge at Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar in Houston (although at $125, not a bad deal at all!), it packed a powerful punch, featuring concentrated blackberry and cherry fruit, layers of bittersweet chocolate, cedar, and tobacco, all on a firmly tannic frame. About half Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Delicious now and will continue to evolve beautifully over the next ten years. (Weekend Wine, 02/03)

Trefethen 2007 Red Wine Napa Valley Double T ($25). Refreshingly medium-bodied and relatively low in alcohol (13.5%), this Bordeaux blend offers plum aromas and flavors laced with cocoa, coffee, light herbs and toasty oak. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Easy to like with simply grilled chops. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-08-09)

Viader 2001 Napa Valley ($80). Ripe and jammy, with lush blackberry and blueberry flavors and aromas picking up smoke, bittersweet chocolate and dried herb accents. Finishes with an earthy note. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (Splurge Wine, 04/04)

White Oak Vineyards 1997 Myers Limited Red Reserve Sonoma County ($32). This is from a small yielding winery in California. This particular red Meritage (50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Cabernet Franc) is a very deep ruby red with delicious cherry and licorice flavors, and a slight earthiness on the palate. The finish was what I enjoyed the most about the wine — it is very elegant and drinkable now. (Richard’s Picks, 04/00)