Most South American Merlot continues to be vegetal and washed out, but Bodega Weinert has proven that even with young vines a wine with considerable intensity, and wonderful chocolatey, black-cherry, mocha Merlot flavors can be produced. Dark ruby, with a straightforward, pleasingly ripe, fragrant nose, the plump, chunky, mouthfilling 1990 Merlot is faithful to its varietal profile. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.Overall, Bodega Weinert remains the number one source of complex, concentrated, aromatic, intense, traditionally-styled South American wines, but Concha y Toro (Chile) and Catena (Argentina), whose wines are made in a more modern day style, offer strong competition. The wines are generally not released until the winery feels they are close to their plateau of maturity, thus offering the consumer ready to drink wines. The top wines are the Cavas de Weinert and Malbec, made from very old vines. It is rare to see a Malbec from Bodega Weinert, and when one is released it tends to be expensive. The 1977 sold for over $50 a bottle, but, wow, what a stunning bottle of wine it is.Bodega Weinert's wines in large part remain the reference points for South American wines, although it is encouraging to see the number of admirable efforts emerging from South America that now compete with Weinert.Importer: Vinos USA, Inc., Waynesville, NC; tel. (704) 452-3060