My experience with Merlot from Paso is that it is usually solid, sometimes even very good, but seldom great. I suspect it’s simply too warm through the growing season to produce edgy Merlot, but this vintage from Robert Hall certainly fits nicely in the "very good," category, showing rich, ripe dark fruit aromas, vanillin spice and a long, pleasing finish. No, it’s not Duckhorn, but then it’s only $20, and a good value at that price.
