This is a serious Merlot, a welcome relief from the sea of mediocrity that masquerades under the variety. Grown in the winery’s estate vineyard in the southerly Coombville area, the wine shows similarities to Carneros Merlots. Dry, fairly tannic, with crisp acidity and an earthy grounding, it has supple, refined flavors of black cherries, currants, cocoa, violets and cedar.——S.H.(6/1/2008)—— 92