Merlot deserves a second chance, and the Barrel to Bottle crew is here to give it one. This wine was huge in the 90s, but was already trending in the wrong direction by the time Sideways turned it into a punchline. Alicia and Lincoln Park wine manager Ben are here to open your eyes to the world of Merlot that you've been missing out for these past 17 years. Plus a listener Q&A about laying down wine for a newborn's 21st birthday.

Drink along at home with the following wines:

• Bogle Merlot 2018
• L'ecole No. 41 Merlot Columbia Valley 2016
• Duckhorn Merlot Napa 2017
• Nickel & Nickel Merlot Bear Flat Oak Knoll 2017
• Mondot Saint Emilion 2016

Pat is a lazy mixologist, so Roger thought he'd do him a favor with a Beer Cocktails episode. There's nothing easier to make than beer cocktails. Plus, all the hip kids are doing it. From the modern Spaghet to the classic Radler, the Barrel to Bottle crew has some tasty and easy-to-make beer cocktails for you to try out. Find all the recipes on our blog.

We were lucky enough to spend a lot of time a few weeks ago with Bo Barrett. So much that we were able to get a bonus episode out of it. We're jumping into your feed with a deeper dive into the AVA, as well as the past, present and future of Chateau Montelena.

In the early 70s, when Bo Barrett and his father James started at Chateau Montelena, wine hadn't been made there since before Prohibition. A few years later, their Chardonnay would beat out French Chardonnays at the Judgment of Paris. It's the kind of scrappy, underdog story that Hollywood loves. Alicia, Greg and Chris taste through four wines with Bo and talk about the history of his game-changing winery.

Drink along at home with the following wines:

• Chateau Montelena Riesling 2019
• Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2018
• Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2017
• Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2018

It's March, which means the Barrel to Bottle Crew is contractually obligated to talk about Irish spirits. Last year, we tackled some of Pat's favorite Irish whiskies. This time around, Pat has some new and notable Irish whiskies-along with the always popular Irish cream liqueurs-for Greg and Roger to blind taste. Plus, a preview of some upcoming Binny's Handpicked Irish Whiskies.

Drink along at home with the following:

• Bailey's Irish Cream
• McCleary Irish Cream Liqueur
• Five Farms Single Batch Irish Cream Liqueur
• Declan's Irish Cream Liqueur
• West Cork Distillers Bourbon Cask Irish Whiskey
• Busker Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
• Writer's Tears Copper Pot Irish Whiskey
• Kilbeggan Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

Every February, for the last few years, the Beer Buzz has celebrated some of the classic beers that helped establish the American craft beer scene. In celebration of Flagship February, Roger has selected six beers that defined their styles in American craft.

Drink along at home with the following beers:

• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
• Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
• Bell's Amber Ale
• Big Sky Moose Drool
• Founders Dirty Bastard
• Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

Binny's received 50 cases of 2018 Bordeaux samples, which were shared across the chain so wine staff from all stores could better understand the vintage. Whether you'd like to drink now or cellar for later, there are some outstanding 2018 Bordeaux wines to discover.

Listen to our wine team, including our Director of Wine (and buyer of Bordeaux), Barbara Hermann, as we talk En Primeur, how to barrel taste, Barb's aggressive Bordeaux tasting schedule, the original garagistes and, of course, the 2018 vintage.

The Q&A segment used to be a regular segment on Barrel to Bottle, but our hosts and guests are so interesting that episodes started running long and we ran out of time. So we put out the call and assembled the best questions for a somewhat rapid fire question and answer episode. We're giving away so much of the boss' money this week. If you have a question for a future episode, reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

The Barrel to Bottle crew digs deep this week with Russell From of Herman Story. Herman Story does things a little differently, but their goal is to make the best wine while having a great time. Russell discusses the process of making Herman Story wines, from the concept to the unique methods to the eye-catching labels.

Drink along at home with the following wines:

• Herman Story Late Bloomer Grenache 2016
• Herman Story Casual Encounters 2018
• Herman Story First Time Caller Petite Sirah 2018
• Herman Story Bolt Cutter 2018

This week, the Barrel to Bottle crew is answering a question we regularly get in our stores, "If I like this wine, what else should I try?" We'll use some of our best selling wines as a jumping off point to explore other wines of the same or similar style.

If You Like Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, try:

• Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling 2019
• Nora Albarino 2019

If You Like Mark West Pinot Noir, try:

• Nadler Zweigelt 2016
• Palacios Petalos 2018

If You Like Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon, try

• Tinta Azul Red Blend 2019
• Vina Perez Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2017