Concha Y Toro Explorador 2009 (about $10): Nuances of black cherry, currant, and berry with a touch of vanilla on the finish highlight this enjoyable wine from Chile.

This wine isn’t going to blow you away, but hey, for only ten bucks, it’s not too bad. I paired it with a bacon and mushroom pizza and it held up nicely with tannins that are prevelant but not overwhelming.

In’Ka 2009 Pinot Noir (about $14): This well made, well priced Pinot Noir from Chile (yes, Chile) is surprisingly good, with all the classic flavor characteristics of an Old World pinot.

Bright berry flavors lead to an intriguing finish with toasted spice and smoky/earthy notes. Great with a lightly seasoned pork or duck entree.

The price listed is currently available for retail at CJ Wijns, located in Birch Bay. A visit to this destination restaurant and wine tasting venue is highly recommended.

Chateau Joinin 2007 Bordeaux Rouge (about $9): Subtle hint of violet aromas with bright cherry flavors to start, more red fruits on the mid-palate and then a touch of licorice root on the finish.

A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cab Franc, the wine is surprisingly tasty and complex for a Bordeaux at this price point. Buy it by the case, serve it up with a nice roast beef and enjoy.

Remember the 2004 movie, “Sideways”? In it, one of the lead characters extols the virtues of pinot noir, while dismissing merlot as one-dimensional and pedestrian.

Sales of pinot noir subsequently skyrocketed in the US. But what about merlot? Did, what’s been referred to as the “Sideways effect,” have an impact on merlot sales?

California’s Blackstone Winery recently commissioned The Nielsen Company, a global information and media specialist, to conduct a survey of 1,800 wine drinkers. The survey reveals some interesting facts about merlot. Among the findings:

 More American households purchase merlot than any other wine variety, red or white; and in terms of red wine sales, merlot is second only to cabernet sauvignon.
 Merlot sales have grown steadily since “Sideways” was released in 2004.
 Merlot has the highest repeat purchase rate of any varietal in the US, and purchases are more than double those of pinot noir.
 93 percent of those that saw the movie said it had no effect on their opinion of merlot.

Take that, pinot noir.

Merlot consumers site a number of key factors that make it their favorite wine to drink at home; taste, good value, and reliability. Toss in the wine’s versatile and food-friendly characteristics, and it’s no wonder it’s a favorite among many.

Here are some recommendations of California merlots that I’ve sampled as of late that you might enjoy:

Estancia 2007 Central Coast Merlot (about $12) - A lighter-style merlot with bright berry and cherry flavors and a touch of vanilla. I’d hold off on a beef pairing, but it should work nicely with a roast pork entrée.

Blackstone Winery 2007 Winemaker Select Merlot (pictured at left, about $12) - Layered dark fruit flavors of black cherry dominate on the way to a plush, well-rounded finish. A great value at this price.

Simi Winery 2006 Sonoma County Merlot (about $19) - Restrained red berry flavors, with nuances of bittersweet chocolate and pepper on the finish. Try it with roast beef or a mildly seasoned steak.

Over the past several weeks I’ve recommended several wines that I defined as good values because they fell within the $15 a bottle-and-under price range.

But remember, the term “value” can mean different things to different people. Value can also be defined as the perception of getting more for your money than what you paid, regardless of price. So while spending $25 for a bottle of wine may seem like a splurge to some, others might consider it a bargain if they feel that the wine is comparable to one that costs, say, twice as much.

Napa Valley provides plenty of examples of higher-end wines that are ripe for value-priced comparison. It’s not uncommon to pay $30 to $40 for a Napa chardonnay or $40 to $50 for a Napa cabernet. So finding a good, Napa-based winery that produces wines for at least $10 to $15 a bottle less than these prices would certainly be considered a terrific value in my book.

Napa Cellars is just such a winery; and while their prices are great, there’s no skimping on quality. One sip and it’s clear that these are beautiful, well crafted wines that represent great value.

A couple of examples: the 2008 Chardonnay (about $22), with fragrant aromas of apple and vanilla along with flavors of pear, baked apple, and a long, creamy finish; and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (about $28), which is simply spectacular. It displays complex flavors of berry, black currant and mocha and a well-rounded finish with a soft touch of mint.

The winery also produces a number of other varietals (that you can check out at napacellars.com) including sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, merlot, zinfandel and syrah.

I’ve seen Napa Cellars wines at both the Barkley Village Haggen and The Market at Fairhaven. If you don’t find what you’re looking for in stock, simply ask the in-store wine steward and they should be able to order the wines for you.