Owned by Stefano Grilli, who brought in the well-known oenologist, Riccardo Cotarella five years ago, this estate is poised to explode onto the world-wide arena given the quality of the wines. La Palazzola's 1995 Merlot, which was vinified, aged, and bottled in the same manner as the Rubino, is extremely limited in quantity. Made from 100% Merlot from a vineyard planted in 1990, there are only 100 cases of this outstanding wine. A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by closed aromatics. Scents of black-cherry, earth, smoke, and spice do emerge with coaxing, but this wine needs 5-6 years of cellaring. As ironic as it sounds, it is more structured and backward than the Cabernet Sauvignon-based Rubino. In short, it takes no special talent to recognize the Merlot's intense richness, high extract, and overall depth and intensity. It is another brilliant, but young wine (impeccably vinified and bottled by Riccardo Cotarella) that needs 4-6 years of cellaring, after which it should last for two decades. Wow!A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620