There were some herbal notes in the nose of the 2012 Merlot, a variety that might suffer in such dry years as 2012 (250 liters) and the palate feels a little lighter, like there's something missing somewhere in the middle. Pleasant and easy. 40,000 bottles produced.

Sourced from a vineyard planted in 2002, the 2011 Merlot was machine harvested and fermented in stainless steel and aged for six months in French oak barrels. It has a nose of beef blood, iron and cherries with an herbal hint in the background; a perfectly ripe Merlot without the jammy notes of a warm zone. The oak is very well integrated with the fruit both in nose and palate where you find a combination of tannins from the variety. The wood should make the wine better in its second or third year. Again, this is a Merlot with 13.5% alcohol, restrained and quite varietal. 40,000 bottles were produced.

Fairly big and muscular, with black fruit, cinnamon and olive notes on the nose. The palate is beefy and deep, with plum and blackberry flavors. With big tannins and a full-bodied personality, this is not a lightweight. ——M.S.(12/15/2006)—— 85