Lodi Merlot Shines in 181 Wine Cellars' 2007 Vintage

The 181 Merlot clone thrives in Lodi's red clay soil, producing a luscious, flavorful wine at an affordable price point.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 181 Merlot clone, which has thrived in the red clay soil of Bordeaux's Pomerol region, is now producing excellent Merlot in the red clay soil of Lodi, California's Clay Station Vineyard. Wine writer Randy Fuller recently sampled the 2007 vintage of this Merlot at The Den in Los Angeles, finding it to be a luscious, flavorful, and affordable wine.

Why it matters

The success of the 181 Merlot clone in Lodi's soil highlights the region's potential to produce high-quality, affordable Merlot that can compete with more renowned appellations. This could bring more attention and investment to Lodi's wine industry.

The details

The 181 Merlot clone is rich in minerals that have drained from the nearby Sierras, making Lodi's soil near-perfect for growing this transplant from Bordeaux's Pomerol region. The 2007 vintage sampled by the author featured big black cherry flavors, smoky vanilla and cedarbox notes, and a hint of cassis, with a great backbone and a long finish.

  • The 181 Merlot 2007 vintage was sampled by the author on a Saturday afternoon visit to The Den on L.A.'s Sunset Boulevard.

The players

181 Wine Cellars

The winery that produced the 181 Merlot 2007 vintage.

Randy Fuller

A wine writer who sampled the 181 Merlot 2007 vintage at The Den in Los Angeles.

Clay Station Vineyard

The vineyard in Lodi, California where the 181 Merlot grapes were grown for the 2007 vintage.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's about a luscious nose, an explosive palate and an earthy quality that would have Merlot-hater Miles Raymond taking a second sip.”

— Randy Fuller, Wine Writer (nowandzin.com)

The takeaway

The success of the 181 Merlot clone in Lodi's soil demonstrates the region's potential to produce high-quality, affordable Merlot that can compete with more renowned appellations, potentially bringing more attention and investment to Lodi's wine industry.