2019 No Brainer Merlot Dry Creek Valley 750 ml

In terms of sheer raw ingredients—the combination of grapes and talent—it’s amazing that the No Brainer Merlot is under $50.

Start with Anna and Mario Monticelli, both in-demand winemakers in their own right. Anna rose through the ranks of the Cult Cabernet world, first as the assistant winemaker at Seavey for two years. She then spent five years at Bryant Family, where she made $600 Cabs that sold instantly to a devoted mailing list. Now she’s an in-demand winemaker and consultant. 

Mario worked as the right-hand man for 100-point legend Phillipe Melka in his role as a consultant to Napa Valley stars. Then he struck out on his own for a lauded career—and together, he and Anna own In Vino Felicitas and make the wines, including today’s No Brainer Merlot.

For this stunner, they tapped Dry Creek Valley—one of Sonoma’s most famous appellations for the grape. Dry Creek’s Mediterranean climate allows the Merlot grapes to fully ripen, while the well-drained soils force roots to dig deep into the earth, to build character and concentration in the berries. 

Once the grapes are harvested and brought into the cellar, they gave these berries the luxe treatment, with carefully managed fermentation leading into a 30-month stay in 50% new French oak. That’s the kind of expensive elevage we’d expect to see on a wine with a triple-digit price tag, not one with a Tuesday-night tariff. We recommend stocking up and pouring with abandon!