Because bag-in-box wine like the 3-liter Bota Box Merlot 2006 ($19) never comes in contact with air, this wine (like other boxed wine) lasts for about four to six weeks. It is compact and stores well in the fridge or on the counter (it's about the same size as a gallon of milk). Serve this merlot at your next gathering in a pretty decanter so it looks good on your table and has a chance to breathe. We stacked up the flavor against Columbia Crest Grande Estates Merlot 2005, one of Food and Wine's Best American Wines Under $15, and there's a good chance you'll like it just as well.