Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Merlot Vintner's Select delivers notions of warm black plums, blueberry pie and spice cake with hints of anise, potpourri and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, soft, plush and oh-so-spicy in the mouth, it fills the palate with black fruit preserves and just enough freshness, finishing long with a minty kick. 561 cases were made.

As with the Reserve Claret, this wine comes with a fair dollop of dusty oak in its makeup, but here, that oak plays a tad on the bold side. That said, it is still ripe and convincing fruit rather than oak that takes the lead and stays in tip-top form from front to back. The wine is full in body, solidly structured and capable of gaining both suppleness and layering over the next six to ten years without losing as much as a step.

Medium-dark ruby; attractive, ripe, spicy, plum and blackberry fruit aroma with a hint of milk chocolate; full body; ripe, concentrated, cedary, dark fruit flavors with good depth, a note of sweet oak, and a plummy richness in the mouthfeel; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. The rich fruit and controlled tannin makes the wine very appealing to drink now, though best to give it at least several more years of aging. Very highly recommended

Finely textured, with lots of green olive notes to the raspberry and red currant flavors. The savory finish lingers with plenty of spiciness. Drink now through 2019. 561 cases made.–KM