Lost and Found Merlot Massa Vineyard Carmel Valley 2019

Located just southeast of Monterey, Caramel Valley is one of the best spots in California to grow the merlot grape. This wine, from “Winemaker to Watch” Megan Glaab, is everything we love about wine – thoughtfully grown grapes, purely expressed, at the artisan level. Throw in a stunning 50% off, and this is one of the most enticing California reds to be had under $20...from anywhere!

Torbreck, Marcassin, Peay, Pisoni, Ryme, and more – these are just a few of the world-famous cellars that Megan Glaab has linked and forged on her winemaker’s chain. (She co-founded Ryme back in 2007 with her husband, Ryan). Lost and Found is one of Megan’s current projects, started as a partnership between Megan, her former Master Sommelier boss, Geoff Kruth, and Joe and Catherine Bartolomei – the owners of the restaurant where they worked – Sonoma’s historic (And Michelin-starred) Farmhouse Inn.  

Dubbed as “Winemakers to Watch” by the hippest California wine tastemaker, Jon Bonné, Megan and Ryan are budding California wine superstars making fantastic wines from amazing sites throughout California. This amazing vineyard was formerly known as the Durney Vineyard and has been organically farmed since the 1980s. Set along an east-to-west valley, this site combines the cold and foggy oceanic influences of nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea, with the arid warmth of Arroyo Seco. Schist, granite, sandstone, and calcareous soils make up the landscape – giving this tiny region a lot in common with Napa Valley.

This is a simply spectacular merlot – one to please both fans and critics of the divisive grape endlessly. 

Layered with myriad red fruits – from red currants to raspberries, cherries, and more – this beauty leads off with enticing notes of dried flowers and herbs, then whispering of tobacco leaf, before the berry core awakens. Juicy and warm on the palate, with a delicate and soft mineral edge on the seamless finish. Minimal oak influence throughout makes for an elegant and varietally authentic wine that perfectly showcases the potential of merlot in California. Perfect for summer sipping, dining al fresco, and nearly everything else you might imagine. For UNDER $20, this is something you simply must taste, no question.