3 | Wine | Merlot, 2010

"Firm in texture, displaying a hard edge to the smoky berry, green olive and hay aromas and flavors, which linger against well-modulated tannins."

"We craft this wine to be our complex yet approachable Merlot. The wine offers aromas of black cherry, leather and spice with layers of rich dark red fruit flavors and a long, smooth, sweet finish. A touch of Syrah adds a jammy fruit character. I think of this wine as a great any day red."

"The 2010 Merlot reveals aromas and flavors of ripe cherries and blackberries with notes of spice. Sweet fruit on the palate is complemented by toasty oak and soft tannins."

"Plummy nose, with some savory tobacco suggestions swirling in the background. On the palate the taste of black raspberries and cherries laced with chocolate and espresso, with just a hint of tannic grip on the finish. Mouth-filling and voluminous, this wine is all about sensuous curves--but possesses a fine bone structure to age gracefully for at least a few years. And lots of flavor to burn."

"Plum and blueberry flavors with a touch of dried herb predominate in this soft, rich, mouth filling Merlot. These characteristics are enhanced by aging in small oak barrels for a toasty, spicy vanilla character and a lingering berry-cream finish. Drink this satisfying Merlot over the next two to four years."

"With firm tannins and exceptional length, this is a lovely and age-worthy wine that shows how much Merlot can excel in a cooler growing season. The aromas are rich and inviting with layers of amaretto, sweet spice and cedar. On the palate, lush flavors of plum, blackberry and cherry dominate, with the tannins adding structure and depth."