The Best Merlot

The Merlot grape is a bit of an enigma. Simultaneously shunned and adored, it is used in some of the most expensive Bordeaux wines (particularly in the prestigious Right Bank regions of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion) as well as some of the cheapest dollar bottles on the market.

Don't let either reputation scare you away from what this variety has to offer; however, as there are some truly excellent, inexpensive examples for Reverse Wine Snobs to explore. In this listing of the best Merlot under $20 we'll highlight our favorites that truly deliver a lot of bang for the buck as well as a few "Saturday Splurge" (over $20) selections.

Both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are children of Cabernet Franc, and these two grapes are grown just about everywhere. Often confused with each other, Merlot is typically less tannic, softer and a bit fruitier than its more famous relative. Both varieties can have tons of aging potential and can go wonderfully with burgers or other red meats off the grill, it really just comes down to personal preference. If you've mainly been a Cabernet drinker up to this point, we highly encourage you to check out Merlot as well.

We've generally found some of the best bottles to come from places like Washington State, France, California and Italy, where it is often a component of Super Tuscan blends.

Click here to get a printable shopping list of the best Merlot to buy now!

Washington State, the second largest producer of wine in the US, might be the sweet spot at the moment in terms of delivering value. The unique and varying soils of the Columbia Valley combined with 300 days of sunshine a year, large day and night (diurnal) temperature variations and low rainfall amounts all create fabulous conditions for growing high-quality grapes.

In fact, Washington Merlot (along with Spanish Garnacha) is usually one of our top recommendations when people ask us for the best places to find value, regardless of variety.

That said, don't dismiss other regions when seeking out excellent examples of this variety. Even areas such as Argentina and Chile are starting to deliver some fantastic value. We cover all these regions and more in our list of the best Merlot (mostly) under $20.

And one last tip, some of the best examples of this variety come in the form of red blends with Merlot adding its signature soft, round mouthfeel to other varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon. Don't be afraid to explore these as well.

Read on for our list of The Best Merlot Under $20!