"Pure, showing a supple texture, featuring damson plum, black cherry and tobacco leaf notes that hang elegantly through the finish. Very fresh, with buried acidity."

"A nice juicy spine runs through the mix of raisin, mulled plum and black currant fruit. Flashes of anise and tobacco add range on the finish."

"Merlot displays classic tobacco leaf and smoky barbecue notes along with rich black currants and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied, seductive, attractively up-front style. Some Asian plum sauce is also noticeable in this complex, evolved and delicious wine, which can be drunk over the next 10-15 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage." -Robert Parker