Turning Leaf - Merlot @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $4.97 (Wal-Mart)

Another inexpensively priced gem from brothers Ernesto and Julio Gallo, Turning Leaf Merlot is actually quite a tastey bottle for the price. Certainly, I've had other reds within this similar price range that have wow'd me more, but it's not bad. Frankly, I'm pretty surprised, after my previous post on their Gallo brand Zinfandel, I was not expecting a whole lot.

The marketing for each brand under the Gallo umbrella is fascinating to me. This particular brand follows the tradition of allowing a wine to "breathe" by encapsulating their entire marketing strategy on wine as allowing the consumer to breathe: "Before you uncork a bottle of Turning Leaf wine, we invite you to take a deep breath, let the day slip away and renew."

Let's get down to taste: it's not quite as flavorful as I'd like it to be but it's pleasant nonetheless. The best part is the finish: slightly dry with a smokey aftertaste. No offensive tastes on the palette so this is definitely a good choice for beginner red wine drinkers.