V. Sattui Winery Merlot Los Carneros

Very oaky and tannic right out of the bottle, fruit was completely obscured. After 3 hr decant, began to open up some, but it was more like 6 hours later before it peaked. A cold-climate styled wine, with French Merlot flavors and a fruit that is much darker than the typical red-cherry merlot. Ash and smoke from some likely well-toasted barrels, and I'm guessing a long time in oak for the tannins and buttery notes. Good marks for winemaking, as …

Popped and poured. Nice nose of dark chocolate, black cherry, spicy oak. On the palate, mocha, black cherry, oak (good oak). Finishes with dusty tannins. OK value, better than it was a year ago.

Good every day drinker. Nice plum and dark fruit flavors with the signature that says Merlot. Will not improve with age, drink now. Nice simple enjoyable wine. Good, just short of very good.