Reverse Wine Snob

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good

  • About
  • Aldi® Picks
  • Costco® Picks
  • Trader Joe’s® Picks
  • FREE GUIDE
  • Insider Deals
menu icon
go to homepage
Get Our Free Guide
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE GUIDE!
  • Insider Deals
  • Best Of Lists
    • - Costco
    • - Trader Joe's
    • - Aldi
  • About
  • The Rating System
  • More Helpful Links
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Novelty Hill Merlot - This Ain't Your Grandmother's Merlot

    By: Jon Thorsen Published: December 16, 2016 Last Updated: June 1, 2021

    Novelty Hill Merlot - This Ain't Your Grandmother's MerlotStart a love affair with Washington Merlot with the Novelty Hill Merlot.

    95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from Frenchman Hills, the Horse Heaven Hills and Tri-Cities in the Columbia Valley, Washington. The wine is aged for 22 months in new and one year old barrels (65% French oak).

    The Novelty Hill Merlot has an SRP of $23 and is available for as low as $16. 2,936 cases produced. Sample submitted for review.

    From the bottle:

    Novelty Hill's name is inspired by the Latin In Novale Novella, "In virgin ground I plant young vines." Novelty Hill relies on our Stillwater Creek estate vineyard and other top Columbia Valley vineyards located east of the Cascade Mountains. The vineyards enjoy a warm, dry growing season perfect for producing world-class wine grapes.

    14.4% Alcohol

    Today we continue our love affair with Washington Merlot with another fabulous pick from the Columbia Valley. Today's wine comes from Mike Januik's Novelty Hill label. Mike was winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle for ten years before leaving to start his own Januik Winery. If you haven't yet experienced what a great Washington Merlot tastes like, this is great place to start.

    The 2013 Novelty Hill Merlot begins with a very pleasing aroma of ripe red and black cherries that are infused with just the right amount of spice along with notes of chocolate and vanilla. In the mouth the wine is smooth and tasty with savory black cherry, spice and chocolate combining seamlessly and offering plenty of depth and complexity. It ends dry and with good length. This is a great example of Washington Merlot and a wine that is on par with one of our favorite splurges, the Northstar Merlot which costs almost twice the price.

    Looking for more great wine from Washington under $20? Find out more about Washington wines plus all of our recommended picks right here.

    See a listing of local retailers selling the Novelty Hill Merlot here.

    2013 Novelty Hill Merlot

    TASTE: 9       COST: 5
    OVERALL RATING: 8

    Highly Recommended

    Filed Under: Highly Recommended, Merlot, Washington

    << Boxx Cellars Sangiovese - Truly Tasty
    Raeburn Russian River Valley Chardonnay - Lovable >>

    About Jon Thorsen

    Author and independent wine consumer helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. Sign up for my FREE GUIDE to learn how! Read more about me...

    Reverse Wine Snob Insider Deals Header Square

    Limited Time offers with amazing discounts just for our readers.

    Don't Miss Out!

    About Reverse Wine Snob

    Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good! Jon Thorsen is an independent wine consumer who has been helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob® sign up for my free guide and don't miss our exclusive Insider Deals! Read more about Reverse Wine Snob in the news and about me.

    Reverse Wine Snob Logo

    Join over 450,000 followers on social media!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Get Our Free Guide! How To Drink Great Wine...Without Breaking The Bank

    Free Guide! How To Drink Great Wine Without Breaking The BankReady to start drinking the best wine of your life, and save money doing it? Sign up for our 5 Day Free Guide!

    Learn More

    Helpful Links

    • - Ask The Expert Series
    • - Browse by Variety, Region, etc.
    • - Buy My Book on Amazon
    • - Get Our Free Guide
    • - How To Choose A Good Bottle of Wine
    • - Insider Deals
    • - Insider Deal FAQ
    • - Printable Lists of Recommended Wines
    • - Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery
    • - The Rating System
    • - Wine Tasting Basics

    • - Advertise
    • - Contact Info
    • - Submit Samples for review

    How To Drink Great Wine...Without Breaking The Bank

    Tired of wasting money on bad wine? Sign up for our Free Guide!

    No commitments, no spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Best Of Lists!

      • - Aldi Wine
      • - Best Pizza Wines
      • - Best Red Wines of 2022
      • - Box Wines
      • - Cabernet Sauvignon
      • - Chardonnay
      • - Chianti
      • - Costco Wine
      • - French Wines
      • - Italian Wines
      • - Malbec
      • - Merlot
      • - Oregon Wines
      • - Organic Wines
      • - Pinot Noir
      • - Red Blends
      • - Rosé
      • - Riesling
      • - Sauvignon Blanc
      • - Spanish Wines
      • - Sparkling Wine
      • - Syrah
      • - Thanksgiving Wines
      • - Trader Joe's Wine
      • - Vegan Wines
      • - Zinfandel
      • And Many More Best of Lists

    Reverse Wine Snob®: Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

    Copyright © 2011–2023 · Reverse Wine Snob, LLC. | Privacy, Editorial & Advertising Policy