93pts Vinous

The 2019 Merlot is very pretty in this vintage. Floral and spice notes give the Merlot a striking aromatic upper register that is both distinctive and alluring. Sweet red cherry, cinnamon and rose petal all build nicely in the glass. Best of all, the Pride Merlot will drink well right out of the gate.

93pts Wilfred Wong

The 2019 Pride Mountain Vineyards Napa - Sonoma Merlot is powerful yet well-built and nicely balanced. This wine delivers aromas and flavors of black fruit, licorice, and oak. Enjoy it with the first cut from a prime rib.

90pts Jeb Dunnuck

The classic 2019 Merlot comes 70% from Napa County and 30% from Sonoma County. It offers more black cherry and darker fruits as well as Bordeaux-like notes of cedarwood, damp earth, and spice. Medium-bodied on the palate, nicely balanced, and textured, it has a firmer edge that's going to soften with a year or two of bottle age. It should drink nicely through 2029.

Winemaker Notes

Red and black fruit aromas range from cherry to plum to currant with minerally slate and darker subtle notes of caramel, licorice, and tar adding intrigue. The palate possesses a sensuous roundness so typical of great merlot with a beautiful lithe energy echoing with the dark flavors on the long finish.

Blend: 91% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon