This chocolatey, smoky, lavishly wooded Merlot is a flamboyantly-styled wine. The color is a healthy dark plum. The nose offers up plenty of vanillin, smoke, and spice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, with noticeable wood tannin and spice. It needs another 1-2 years of cellaring, but should drink well for a decade. Those readers without the patience to wait several years are advised to decant this Merlot 45 minutes before drinking.Tel. (707) 433-9463