newbie needs your help

[Innkeeper]

Foodie and Scoop gave very good advice, and let you down softly. Heh, heh! Merlot is a one dimensional wine when made up 100%. That one dimension can be quite good under certain rare growing and/or wine making conditions. Most American, Australian, and Chilian Merlot tasts more like wood than like wine. IMHO the best way to enjoy merlot is in Pomerol, and St Emilion. These always have some other wines blended into them. A relativey inexpensive Pomerol that is fairly steady year in and year out is Chateau De Sales. It runs around $20.00 and usually needs to lie down for two or three years. Blends from Australia are much less expensive and more approachable, but they do tend to have a heavy hand with the oak.