Robert Mondavi

[wendimc]

I just purchased a bottle of Robert Mondavi's 1997 Merlot - Napa Valley as a gift to someone who enjoys red wine.

OK decision?

[Innkeeper]

Hi Wendimc, and welcome to the Wine Board. Would characterize your decision as a safe one. The "someone" should enjoy it. Would I have made the same decision? No. First I would have gone with the cabernet sauvignon if it was available; granted most '97 cabs have been scarfed up. Is there a better merlot at the same or lesser price than the Mondavi. Yes. This answer is definitely prejudiced by my opinion that all but a handful of California Merlot is single dimentional swill.

This is a long way of saying that you didn't do bad, but could have done better.