Here is a Merlot whose mass and muscle all but scream out for long aging. It is intense in aroma and generous in flavor with character that ranges from highly ripened cherries and tea leaf to large doses of creamy oak tasting of cappuccino and crème brulee. It all but parallels what one might expect of a Cabernet Sauvignon at the same price, yet this is not Cabernet and the wine's aging curve is likely to be a touch shorter. A fine and deep wine to be sure, it is made in a style that is meant to be taken seriously by collectors.

A success despite a certain leanness, this is a young wine in need of mid-term cellaring. Notes of green olives, bacon, unsweetened dark chocolate and boysenberries are wrapped in sumptuous, lush tannins that melt on the palate.