A panel of advanced and master sommeliers at the 7th annual Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition loved this Napa Valley Merlot, and it’s easy to see why. With firm structure and richly layers red and black fruits, it could easily pass for a Right Bank Bordeaux. Aromas of plum, blueberry and blackberry dominate this wine that exhibits impressive dimension and weight. The wood note hangs judiciously in the background, lending hints of vanilla and spice. I wouldn’t hesitate to lay it down for a decade or longer.
Kalaris, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2013
By Robert Whitley