Pride Merlot

Pride Merlot is a full-bodied Napa Valley red wine from Pride Mountain Vineyards, bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2021 vintage earned 93 points from Vinous and 92 points from Jeb Dunnuck, continuing a legacy that includes two appearances on Wine Spectator's Top 100 list — the 2007 vintage ranked #34 and the 2001 vintage ranked #92.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Napa Valley, California  |  Current Release  |  Winery: Pride Mountain Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Pride Mountain Vineyards sits at 1,300 to 2,100 feet elevation on the Mayacamas Mountains, with estate vineyards straddling the Napa and Sonoma county line. The winery has a fanatical appreciation for Clone 3 Merlot, which forms the backbone of this wine — the 2022 vintage blends 85% Merlot with 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, followed by approximately 16 months of aging in French oak barrels, 40% of which are new, building structure and complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe blackberry and just-ripe plum lead the nose, followed by layers of dark chocolate, bay leaf, and a touch of dusty earth. Subtle hints of black cherry and temperate forest floor add depth and intrigue.

Taste: The palate opens with concentrated dark blue and purplish fruit, building through the mid-palate with flavors of new leather, mocha, and licorice. Five-spice, cardamom, and black loamy earth emerge as the wine develops, framed by balanced acidity and significant yet silky tannins.

Finish: The finish is long, velvety, and spice-driven, with lingering notes of wet pipe tobacco and dark chocolate. The tannin structure carries the fruit through a mouthwatering close that invites another sip.

How to Drink Pride Merlot

This wine is best served at 60–65°F and benefits from 30 to 60 minutes of decanting to open up its layered aromatics. Enjoy it neat in a large-bowled glass to give the complex nose room to develop. For a red wine cocktail, the rich fruit profile works in a Kalimotxo as a bold base against cola's sweetness, in a Red Wine Sangria where the dark fruit and spice amplify citrus and brandy, or in a classic Mulled Wine during cooler months where the existing chocolate and five-spice notes harmonize naturally with warm spice additions.

Best For

• Gifting a serious wine collector who appreciates mountain-grown California Merlot
• Serving as the centerpiece red at a multi-course dinner party
• Cellaring for medium-term aging given the wine's tannin structure and track record
• Converting skeptics who dismissed Merlot after the so-called "Sideways effect"

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Pride Merlot taste like? Pride Merlot delivers concentrated blackberry, dark plum, and dark chocolate flavors with layers of mocha, licorice, and five-spice, wrapped in silky tannins and balanced acidity. It is a full-bodied, richly textured wine with notable depth and a long, spice-driven finish.

How does Pride Merlot compare to Pomerol Merlot? Pride Mountain Merlot has been described by critics as a "Pomerol look-alike," sharing the density and plush dark fruit character associated with Bordeaux's Right Bank, but with the added ripeness and power that comes from high-elevation California viticulture. Where many Pomerol wines lean toward earthy restraint, Pride tends toward bolder fruit concentration and more pronounced chocolate and spice notes.

Is Pride Merlot good for sipping neat? Pride Merlot is an excellent choice for sipping neat, as its layered aromatics and velvety tannins reward focused attention. A brief decant helps the wine open fully and reveal its more complex secondary notes of tobacco and earth.

Where is Pride Merlot made? Pride Merlot is produced at Pride Mountain Vineyards, located at 1,300 to 2,100 feet elevation on the Mayacamas Mountains along the border of Napa and Sonoma counties in California. The wine carries a Napa Valley AVA designation.

What foods pair well with Pride Merlot? Braised short ribs complement the wine's dark fruit and silky tannins. Grilled lamb chops echo its earthy, spiced character. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the mocha and chocolate notes in the wine. Aged Gouda or Comté cheeses provide a rich, nutty counterpoint to the fruit. Mushroom risotto highlights the wine's forest-floor aromatics.

What sizes does Pride Merlot come in? Pride Merlot is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Pride Merlot worth the price? Pride Merlot positions as a premium Napa Valley red, and its pricing reflects the estate's high-elevation vineyard sourcing, Clone 3 Merlot specialization, and consistent critical acclaim including multiple 90+ point scores from major publications. For collectors and serious Merlot enthusiasts, it represents strong value within the upper tier of California Merlot.

Why Pride Merlot?

Pride Mountain Vineyards' commitment to Clone 3 Merlot grown at elevations up to 2,100 feet sets this wine apart from virtually every other California Merlot on the market. The mountaintop fruit delivers a concentration and tannin structure rarely found in the varietal, earning the wine comparisons to top Pomerol estates. With two Wine Spectator Top 100 placements and consistently strong scores from Vinous and Jeb Dunnuck, this is one of the most critically validated American Merlots in production. It stands as direct evidence that site-specific, high-elevation viticulture can produce Merlot of genuine complexity and ageability.