A 70-30 blend of fruit from Napa and Sonoma, the 2019 Merlot includes 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose offers up hints of mint, cherry tomatoes and redcurrants, plus some riper notions of cherries and raspberries, while the medium to full-bodied palate is smooth and supple, marked by ripe, easygoing tannins and a softly dusty finish. The wine is already approachable but should drink well for close to a decade.

The 2018 Merlot is a blend of 83% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, all of the fruit coming from Napa Valley. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls sensuously out of the glass with scents of warm red and black plums, Morello cherries and boysenberries with suggestions of wild thyme, baking spices and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate has bags of freshness and vivacity with a soft texture and an herbal lift on the finish. 4538 cases were made.

Containing 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Merlot offers up pronounced notes of plum preserves, baked blackberries and black forest cake with suggestions of baking spices, licorice and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, rich and velvety textured, the palate is laden with dark fruit and spice layers, beautifully defined by a refreshing line, finishing with great persistence. 4,404 cases produced.

Composed of 84% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot all coming from Napa Valley, the 2016 Merlot features warm red and black plums, freshly crushed blackberries and mulberries with nuances of spice cake, tobacco leaf, star anise and vanilla pod. The medium-bodied palate offers fresh black berries and plum flavors with a lovely spicy undercurrent and soft texture, finishing with great freshness and purity. 4404 cases were made.

The 2014 Merlot is soft, luscious and dense, with notes of chocolate, espresso bean, mulberry, and ripe cherry and plum. This is a big cuvée of 4,681 cases and was aged 18 months in 40% new French oak prior to being bottled. It’s a beauty to drink over the next 10 years.