772 | Wine | Merlot, $50 to $100

This wine was named #11 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2012.

"This red is round, generous and expressive, offering plum, loganberry, cherry and clove flavors that pick up hints of loam and floral character as the finish tightens its focus. Impressive for its length and deft balance."

"Sweet aromas of chocolatey black cherry and black currant fruit intertwined with a notion of wood smoke. Fashioned from a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, it is a round, opulent, pure, elegant effort created by Michel Rolland’s top assistant, Jean-Philippe Fort, and proprietor Jean-Philippe Janoueix. Drink it over the next decade or more." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Limited by Mother Nature, our 2010 Signature Merlot is exceptionally well-balanced and rewardingly complex. Floral aromas of lavender and violet join clove, black tea and incense on the vibrant, inviting nose. At its core are warm, ripe flavors of dark plum, Black Mission fig and blueberry, laced with enriching hints of vanilla, cola and cassis. Plush and rich yet with plenty of structure, this is a wine for immediate enjoyment or longer term aging."

"Blackberry and licorice aromas perked up by violet and spices. Juicy and moderately deep, with dark fruit flavors complicated by tobacco and cedar. Not a fat style for this bottling but boasts a solid acid/tannin spine and very good balance--not to mention fruit intensity." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

This wine was named #96 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2012.

"Plush and richly structured, but with a dense, structured core, offering aromas of red currant and toasty mocha that lead to complex flavors of black cherry and Asian spice. Loamy, ripe tannins sneak in on the finish."

"It reveals a nose of cedar, Asian spices, incense, cassis, and black currant. Structured and savory on the palate with spicy black fruit flavors, it has the balance to evolve gracefully for 2-3 years and will offer prime drinking from 2013 to 2023."

"Extremely backward, firm, and virile, this macho wine exhibits full-bodied power, a dense blackberry, smoky nose, huge tannins, but impressive stuffing and depth. This is not for the faint of heart, and also not for those who need immediate drinkability."-Robert Parker