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While large-scale productions dominate supermarket shelves, a passionate cohort of small-batch producers is redefining the grape, emphasizing site-specific character, meticulous farming, and artisanal winemaking. These vintners are crafting Merlots of remarkable depth, elegance, and authenticity. Here are five standout small-batch
While large-scale productions dominate supermarket shelves, a passionate cohort of small-batch producers is redefining the grape, emphasizing site-specific character, meticulous farming, and artisanal winemaking. These vintners are crafting Merlots of remarkable depth, elegance, and authenticity. Here are five standout small-batch Merlot producers who are putting this noble variety back in the spotlight.
Why Watch Them: In a region known for power, Massican’s Dan Petroski takes a decidedly Old-World, minimalist approach. Sourcing fruit from meticulously farmed, cooler sites in Napa, his Annia blend (which features Merlot alongside Tocai Friulano and Ribolla Gialla) showcases Merlot’s aromatic finesse and structural backbone without overwhelming oak or alcohol. This is Merlot as a vehicle for freshness and terroir, challenging every Napa stereotype.
Why Watch Them: Master Sommelier Greg Harrington and his team are Washington State legends for a reason. Their Lower East vineyard Merlot is a masterclass in balance. Sourced from the cooler, higher elevation rocks district of Walla Walla, it offers a compelling profile of red cherry, dried herbs, tobacco, and a distinct mineral grip. Gramercy focuses on restraint, complexity, and age-worthiness, proving Washington Merlot can rival the world’s best.
Why Watch Them: Steve and Jill Matthiasson are pioneers of the California sustainable and holistic farming movement. Their Linda Vista Vineyard Merlot is a pure expression of the variety from a historic vineyard in the Oak Knoll District. Farmed organically, the wine is fermented with native yeasts and sees minimal new oak. The result is vibrantly fresh, with flavors of plum, raspberry, bay leaf, and a savory, food-friendly acidity that speaks of place first and grape second.
Why Watch Them: For a taste of Merlot’s Old-World soul from an emerging region, look to Le Pich in Bergerac. Winemaker Julien Montfort works biodynamically on clay-limestone soils, crafting a Merlot that is dense, fragrant, and beautifully textured. It captures the plush fruit the grape is known for, but frames it with notes of truffle, earth, and graphite. It offers incredible value and the kind of rustic elegance that makes you rethink what “right-bank” style can mean outside of Bordeaux’s famous communes.
Why Watch Them: Proving Merlot can thrive in cool coastal climates, this project from sommelier-turned-winemaker Brian McClintic focuses on a single block at the renowned Sta. Rita Hills vineyard, Radian. The extreme Pacific influence and diatomaceous soils create a Merlot unlike any other: bright, tense, and aromatic, with cranberry and pomegranate notes, saline minerality, and a silky texture. It’s a thrilling, site-driven interpretation that expands the horizon for California Merlot.
Terroir Over Power
What unites these diverse producers is a commitment to vineyard-first philosophy. They are moving away from a monolithic, overly extracted style and towards wines that reflect their specific origins—be it the rocky slopes of Walla Walla, the cool fog of Napa’s benches, or the limestone of Southwest France. They employ organic or biodynamic practices, gentle winemaking, and judicious use of oak, allowing Merlot’s inherent grace and character to shine.
For the wine enthusiast, seeking out these small-batch producers is more than just tasting a different style of Merlot; it’s about connecting with the vision of individual vintners and the unique patches of earth they steward. Their wines tell a story, and it’s one of revival, precision, and profound drinkability. The next wave of great Merlot is not on a massive scale; it’s in these carefully crafted bottles.
