For the 2022 Alexander Valley Vineyards Estate Merlot from California/Alexander Valley, the professional-review picture is quite positive:
| Source |
Rating |
Notes |
| James Suckling |
92/100 |
Plush and inviting; ripe plum, black cherry, mocha, blueberry and soft spice. Full-bodied, smooth tannins, rounded fruit-driven finish. |
| Decanter / DWWA 2025 |
91/100, Silver |
Spicy nose with pepper and red paprika; Mediterranean herbs, blueberry and plum on the palate. |
| Vivino 2022 vintage |
3.9/5 |
Based on roughly 60–66 consumer ratings; Vivino says the 2022 is the highest-rated vintage of this wine in its comparison. |
Overall assessment
Professional consensus: about 91–92 points — Very Good to Excellent. The wine appears to be a rich, fruit-forward Alexander Valley Merlot, with dark/red berry fruit, mocha/chocolate, spice and relatively soft tannins. It's geared more toward immediate drinking pleasure than serious long-term cellaring; James Suckling specifically says “drink or hold.”
One useful distinction: the 91 Decanter and 92 James Suckling scores are professional reviews of the 2022 vintage, whereas the 3.9 Vivino score is consumer-generated rather than a professional critic rating.
My take: At around $16–21 retail, a 91–92 point professional showing makes this look like a very good value Merlot, particularly if you like plush California Merlot rather than leaner, more Bordeaux-like styles.
From the winery; After purchasing the historic Cyrus Alexander homestead, Harry and Maggie Wetzel strived to create a thriving agricultural lifestyle on the property. They raised their children along with their vines in Alexander Valley, providing inspiration and encouragement as they developed the estate together. Decades later, the fourth generation of their family is growing up amongst vineyards and next door to the working winery that is known around the world as “AVV”. You could call it a family tradition. We’d be inclined to agree.
AVV was recognized as a “Sonoma Green Business” in June 2010 and is one of only 14 wineries to achieve the certification. The certification recognizes AVV as an environmental leader that conserves resources, minimizes waste and prevents pollution, according to environmental officials with Sonoma County who reviewed the winery’s achievements for two years before awarding the certification. Alexander Valley Vineyard’s many “green” initiatives have been in use for over the past three decades.
