Josh Cellars, California (United States) Merlot 2019

 It is impressive to see a relatively affordable and widely available wine like this be awarded a Platinum medal when judged in its peer group.  Of course, judging panels are not infallible (nor am I, equally obviously), but I had no difficulty understanding why the panel that judged this put it up for top honors.  Medium-bodied but full in flavor, it shows mostly red fruit tones but also some black fruit notes, with just enough wood influence to add a little tug of tannin for grip in the finish — but without denying this the rounded character that has always been Merlot’s calling card in the USA market.