This Merlot mouthful is soft and supple but not insubstantial. It packs a gorgeous red-fruited punch, with a note of spice and oak vanillin that flatters rather than detracts. It has enough grip on the back end to ensure it will benefit from additional cellar age, although it is delicious in its current form. A winner of a platinum award at the fifth annual Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition.
Casa Tiene Vista Vineyard, California (United States) Merlot 2010
By Robert Whitley