2002 Pride Mountain Napa-Sonoma Counties Merlot Heady smoke- and spice-accented aromas

Heady smoke- and spice-accented aromas of dark fruit preserves

a female winemaker who specializes in a varietal that takes a backseat to more famous Piedmont grapes

Sublime definition and purity with scents of blackberry

Powerful and dense

green apple and ginger

2002 Pride Mountain Napa-Sonoma Counties Merlot Heady smoke- and spice-accented aromas*Editors' Choice* What a fabulous Merlot. Yes, its dense in texture, like molten metal, with melted tannins, but its kept lively with clean acids. Meanwhile, the flavors are sheer mountain fruit: concentrated blackberries and cherries and decadent mocha. Complex, elegant and addictively good.