The 2007 Merlot bursts from the glass with generous dark fruit, grilled herbs, tobacco and leather. The herbal overtones are a clear sign this is a Merlot from the north. Nevertheless, the 2007 has plenty of fruit. This big, tasty Merlot is best enjoyed in its exuberant youth. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. Sant’Elena is an interesting property. The estate is located in Gradisca, a town that historically has not been known for the quality of its vineyards. Still, in recent years, Sant’Elena has produced a number of terrific wines under the leadership of proprietor Dominic Nocerino, best known as the owner of Vinifera Imports. There are still some kinks that need to be worked out, and not all of the wines I tasted merited inclusion for this report, but the best wines are well worth seeking out.Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907