Blackberry and other sweet aromas lead to a soft, mildly oaky palate with sweet, ripe plum and berry flavors. There’s juicy acids and reasonable amounts of toast, licorice and spice on the finish. Not sure what differentiates this from Reserve, but the Barrel Select seems better balanced.——M.S.(8/1/2011)—— 86

Soft, with jammy plum and fig notes backed by a hefty dose of cocoa-tinged toast. Drink now.??–JM??Region: Argentina / Mendoza Select to Add

Strained on the nose, with dirty fruit aromas, gaseousness and candy. The palate is cloying and confected, with muddy, jammy, herbal fruit flavors and a cooked, weedy finish. Bulky but not very good. ——M.S.(3/1/2011)—— 82

A little awkward early on, but overall it’s a concentrated, sweet style of Merlot that blends bulk, density and sweetness with just enough integrity and acidity to work. Heat and coffee on the finish hammer home the fact that it’s ripe and oaky. ——M.S.(11/1/2009)—— 87