Flora Springs, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2016

 There are few wineries in California, or even the broader United States, with a better track record for consistency than Flora Springs.  The secret to the Flora Springs success is, as the cliché goes, in the vineyards.  In the case of Flora Springs, the cliché is the reality, with extensive vineyard holdings (more than 1000 acres) in the Napa Valley.  That allows Flora Springs to produce exceptional wine year after year despite fairly significant volume.  The 2016 Merlot delivers ripe red-fruited aromas with just a caress of sweet oak and supple tannins.