Back when I was getting into wine, Beringer's Merlot from Bancroft Ranch was among the pacesetters for Napa Merlot—I have fond memories of the 1987, 1991 and 1994 version of this wine. The 2019 Merlot Bancroft Ranch is reassuringly excellent, with bold scents of mocha and black cherries leading the way on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and densely concentrated, with a pretty darn fantastic texture that lies somewhere between velvet and silk, the wine finishes long and mouthwatering.