This has briary, herbal aromas and a sweet beet note. It is syrupy and sappy, with candied cassis and black cherry flavors. — (12/31/2012) —83

The aromas smell rubbery and soupy, especially at first. Flavors of roasted berry and plum taste slightly burnt and bitter; overall, this Merlot is herbal, oaky and heavy. — (8/1/2012) —83

While I generally like and sometimes even love the Cobos wines, this Merlot underwhelms. The nose is reedy and stemmy, with earthy, herbal raspberry aromas. In the mouth, it’s scratchy and spicy, with herbal berry fruit leading to a mildly bitter finish. Better than in the past, but still a compromised wine due to its minty, green characteristics.——M.S.(5/1/2011)—— 84

Green, grassy and not very appealing. There’s a can’t-miss murky, green, herbal character here that yields almost weedy fruit flavors and carob. Sweet, candied, green and just not that good for a Paul Hobbs-made wine.——M.S.(8/1/2010)—— 81