The 2010 Palafreno is wonderfully polished and vibrant. Firm yet well-integrated tannins provide the backbone for a Merlot endowed with considerable energy. Savory herbs, tobacco and wild flowers all add complexity. The 2010 is first and foremost a wine of Greve. Varietal character is much harder to identify, as the Merlot has now become pretty much domesticated in these pristine, hillside vineyards. Still, there is an attractive, perfumed juiciness to the finish that is a giveaway. Sadly, there will be very little of the 2010 to go around, as most of the harvest was enjoyed by local boars with exceptionally fine taste.