Finding the right Merlot

[hotwine]

Assume you're you're looking for a sipping wine, as opposed to a food accompaniment. Merlot doesn't lend itself all that well to simple quaffing at the end of a long day; in my not so humble opinion, it needs to accompany a meal, especially a steak dinner.
So suggest you look beyond Merlot to another red wine category, such as Beaujolais, which has hints of slight sweetness that might appeal to you. If you'll look down the list of forums on the Wine Board, you'll see a discussion topic specifically on Beaujolais that might provide you with some ideas on alternative wines within that category. Based simply on what you stated, I would recommend you try three of the cru Beaujolais from Georges Duboeuf: Fleurie, Julienas and Reignie, which are generally available in better wine shops. The '98's have now been released and are superb, but the '97's are also exceptional.