It's here! I penned an exciting note on the 1992 Merlot in issue #92 when I published my barrel tasting report on the 1992s. Matanzas Creek's 1992 Merlot has now been released, and it is as spectacular as I had hoped. This may well be the finest Merlot made in the New World. The color is a dark saturated ruby/purple. While the nose is more closed than when I tasted the barrel sample, it offers huge, rich scents of black-cherries, cassis, and vanillin. Full-bodied, with exceptional concentration and depth, this fabulously rich Merlot should last for 12-15 years. A winemaking tour de force! This winery has hit the bull's eye with its 1992 Chardonnay, 1992 Merlot, and 1993 Sauvignon Blanc. Tel. (707) 528-6464.