WineChiefsFavoriteMerlot

Where to buy wines at Retail Stores!

Acme Fine Wines 707-963-0440 1104 Adams Street Suite 104 St. Helena, California 94574

All Seasons Wine Shop and Cafe 1400 Lincoln Ave. Calistoga, CA 94515 800-804-9463

Beltramo's 1540 El Camino Real Menlo Park, CA 94025 650-325-2806

Brown Derby 2023 S. Glenstone Springfield, MO. 65804 800-491-3438 417-883-4066

California Wine Merchant 3237 Pierce St. San Francisco, CA 94123 415-567-0646

Draeger's 222 E. 4th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94401 650-685-3725 1010 University Drive Menlo Park, CA 94025 650-688-0682 342 First Street Los Altos, CA 94022 650-948-4425

Golden West 2443 Fillmore St. #376, San Francisco, CA 94115 415- 931-2300 800- 722-7020 e-mail: goldwest@wco.com

Grapevine 1389 Lincoln Avenue San Jose, Ca 408-293-7874

Hi-Time Wine Cellar 250 Ogle Street Costa Mesa, CA 92627 800-331-3005 949-650-8463

Joseph George 1559 Meridian Ave. San Jose, CA 408-448-WINE

K&L Wines 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 650-364-8544 766 Harrison Street San Francisco, CA 94107 415-896-1734

Nielsen Brothers Wine Shop 7th & San Carlos St. Box H Carmel, CA 93921 831-624-9463

North Berkeley Imports 1601 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, CA 94709 510-848-8910 - 800-266-6585

Oakville Grocery Various Locations

Premier Cru 5890 Christie Avenue Emeryville, CA 94608 510-655-6691

Prima Wines 1522 N. Main Street Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925-945-1800 or 800-70-Prima Premier Cru 5890 Christie Avenue, Emeryville, CA 94608 510-566-6691

Rancho Cellars 23640 Carmel Rancho Blvd. Carmel, CA 93923 831-625-5646 Ask for Jacques Melac

Robert's Market 3015 Woodside Road Woodside, CA 94062 Store 650-851-1511 / Wine Dept. 650-851-2640 ask for John Akeley john@robertsmarket.com

The Cheese Shop downstairs in the Carmel Plaza P.O. Box 109 Carmel, CA 93921 800-828-WINE 831-625-2272

The Wine Exchange of Sonoma, CA 452 First St. East Sonoma, CA. 95476 1-800-938-1794

The Wine Club 953 Harrison St. San Francisco, CA 800-966-7835 or 415-512-9086 1200 Coleman Santa Clara, CA 800-678-5044 or 408-567-0900 2110 McFadden #E Santa Ana, CA 92705 800-966-5432 or 714-835-6485

Vintage Wine Merchants 377 Santana Row Suite 1135 San Jose, CA 408-260-1115

Vin Vino Wine 437 California St. Palo Alto, CA 94306 650-324-4903

Weimax Wines & Spirits 1178 Broadway Burlingame, CA 94010 650-343-0182

Wine Cask 813 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-966-9463 800-436-9463

WineCommune.com

*WineChief's Favorite Merlot* "If they want to drink merlot, we're drinking merlot. Miles "Raymond": *"No, if anyone orders merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any @#&%! merlot!" from the hit movie "Sideways!"**
	Switchback Ridge 2002 Merlot = 5Attababys! Bob Foley, winemaker ROCKS! Better that the Corte Rive Merlot! Wow! The best California Merlot I have ever tasted! Big, Huge, Fat, Thick... that's just the bottle, it's a weapon. Wait until you try the wine...
	Corte Riva 2001 Merlot = 5Attababys! Made by Bob Foley's assistant winemaker! It ROCKS! Better that the Paloma Merlot!
	Paloma Vineyard 1999 & 2001 Merlot = 4Attababys! Jim and Barabara Richards, winegrowers and now winemakers for Paloma Vineyard with their very, very spicy Blueberries, Blackberries, soil, herbs and spices roll around in your mouth eching on the long finish! Wow! One secret is the single vine of ancient Zinfandel they add to the blend... Jim and Barbara started making the wine in 2001! Bob Foley, Winemaker in 1999.
	Leonetti Cellar 1998 Merlot = 5Attababys! Gary Figgins winemaker for Leonetti Cellar makes the best Merlot on the planet! The wonderful fragrance of dark fruit entices you with flavors not attainable in California Merlot. Immediately you know this is a seriously delicious wine. As I sipped this deep dark delicious wine the layers of black fruits, plums and hints of smoky vanilla with layers of oak perfectly balance with the tannins and acidity captivated me. I have never experienced a wonderful combination of layers of fruit combined with layers of oak anywhere else but here at Leonetti Cellars! Bravo to Gary Figgins! Leonetti Cellar 1321 School Ave. Walla Walla, WA 99362 509-525-1428
	1998 & 2002 Walla Walla Vintners Colunmbia Valley Merlot = 4Attababys! $25.00 Wow This wine is almost as good as Leonetti! The nose and flavors can't be beat! Washington Merlot is King! The nose of dark spicy plums and soil soar out of the glass. Supple flavors of plummy, smoky fruit with a hint of vanilla and oak are wonderful. This wine is round and full with depth and body. The mid mouth feel is just what you are looking for. The finish is perfect. To match it with Walla Walla Onion Soup, Schaub's Blackened Tri-Tip and Root Vegetable Puree is remarkable! Walla Walla Vintners P.O. Box 1551 Mill Creek Road Walla Walla, Washington 99362 509-252-4134
	Lewis Cellars 1999 Lewis Merlot = 4Attababys! Beautiful nose of black fruit and soil. Black jammy flavors of black cherries and black berries with a smoky nuance on the perfectly balanced long finish. Great round mouthfeel. One of the best California Merlots I have tasted! Lewis Cellars 524 El Cerrito Avenue Hillsborough, CA 94010 Toll Free 866-529-4637 T: 415.454.7884 F: 415.454.7758
	St. Francis 1999 Sonoma County Merlot = 3Attababys! $17.99 The 1999 Merlot has a deep fragrance of black berries. It opens up with smooth black cherry berry flavors. It delivers ripe fruit that is ripe and up front with a round mid mouth feel and a great finish of smooth tannins and a smack of new oak on the finish. St. Francis is on a roll right now! It is widely available. Make sure you get on the mailing list for future reserve releases.
	St. Francis 1997 Reserve Merlot = 4Attababys! Delicious Merlot. The essence of black berries and plum with a hint of oak on the nose. Dark hints of smoky, chocolate , jammy blackberries with a smack of new oak on the finish. Try the 1994, 1995 St Francis Reserve Merlot too.
	St. Francis 1997 Merlot Sonoma County=3Attababys! $16.99 This Merlot's fragrance flirts with nuances of plums and black berries. Upon tasting, it flowed across my tongue with smooth plum and black cherry flavors. It delivers ripe fruit that is ripe and up front with a round mid mouth feel and a great finish of smooth tannins and a smack of new oak. St. Francis is on a roll right now! It is widely available. Make sure you get on the mailing list for future releases. Enjoy! To match it with Penne Pasta with Italian Sausage and Tomato Sauce is heaven on earth!
	Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2001 Merlot = 3Attababys! $9.99 This Merlot is the best value I have found from North America! Great fruit, balance and that unmistakeable Washington State soil and a great finish!

	Where to buy wines at Retail Stores! Acme Fine Wines 707-963-0440 1104 Adams Street Suite 104 St. Helena, California 94574 All Seasons Wine Shop and Cafe 1400 Lincoln Ave. Calistoga, CA 94515 800-804-9463 Beltramo's 1540 El Camino Real Menlo Park, CA 94025 650-325-2806 Brown Derby 2023 S. Glenstone Springfield, MO. 65804 800-491-3438 417-883-4066 California Wine Merchant 3237 Pierce St. San Francisco, CA 94123 415-567-0646 Draeger's 222 E. 4th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94401 650-685-3725 1010 University Drive Menlo Park, CA 94025 650-688-0682 342 First Street Los Altos, CA 94022 650-948-4425 Golden West 2443 Fillmore St. #376, San Francisco, CA 94115 415- 931-2300 800- 722-7020 e-mail: goldwest@wco.com Grapevine 1389 Lincoln Avenue San Jose, Ca 408-293-7874 Hi-Time Wine Cellar 250 Ogle Street Costa Mesa, CA 92627 800-331-3005 949-650-8463 Joseph George 1559 Meridian Ave. San Jose, CA 408-448-WINE K&L Wines 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 650-364-8544 766 Harrison Street San Francisco, CA 94107 415-896-1734 Nielsen Brothers Wine Shop 7th & San Carlos St. Box H Carmel, CA 93921 831-624-9463 North Berkeley Imports 1601 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, CA 94709 510-848-8910 - 800-266-6585 Oakville Grocery Various Locations Premier Cru 5890 Christie Avenue Emeryville, CA 94608 510-655-6691 Prima Wines 1522 N. Main Street Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925-945-1800 or 800-70-Prima Premier Cru 5890 Christie Avenue, Emeryville, CA 94608 510-566-6691 Rancho Cellars 23640 Carmel Rancho Blvd. Carmel, CA 93923 831-625-5646 Ask for Jacques Melac Robert's Market 3015 Woodside Road Woodside, CA 94062 Store 650-851-1511 / Wine Dept. 650-851-2640 ask for John Akeley john@robertsmarket.com The Cheese Shop downstairs in the Carmel Plaza P.O. Box 109 Carmel, CA 93921 800-828-WINE 831-625-2272 The Wine Exchange of Sonoma, CA 452 First St. East Sonoma, CA. 95476 1-800-938-1794 The Wine Club 953 Harrison St. San Francisco, CA 800-966-7835 or 415-512-9086 1200 Coleman Santa Clara, CA 800-678-5044 or 408-567-0900 2110 McFadden #E Santa Ana, CA 92705 800-966-5432 or 714-835-6485 Vintage Wine Merchants 377 Santana Row Suite 1135 San Jose, CA 408-260-1115 Vin Vino Wine 437 California St. Palo Alto, CA 94306 650-324-4903 Weimax Wines & Spirits 1178 Broadway Burlingame, CA 94010 650-343-0182 Wine Cask 813 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-966-9463 800-436-9463 WineCommune.com









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