Saddleback Cellar's 1999 Merlot (a 400-case, 100% Merlot cuvee aged 18 months in both French and American oak) exhibits tart acidity (a characteristic of this cool year) as well as big, sweet, wild cherry fruit flavors with lushness, purity, and zestiness. The tangy acid gives it a high-strung, cooler climate character, but there is plenty of flavor in this medium-bodied offering. It should drink well for 10-12 years. Tel. (707) 944-1304; Fax (707) 944-1325