The 2012 Merlot Vintner’s Select is 100% Merlot from the Sonoma side of their vineyards, aged in 40% new French oak for 20 months. This smaller cuvée of just over 500 cases displays lots of chocolate and espresso notes, plenty of glycerin, and touches of background oak, spice box, blackberry and black cherry jam. It is ripe, dense, delicious, and ideal for drinking over the next 8-10 years.