2010 The Velvet Devil Merlot

Herbs and floral notes showed on the nose. We tasted toasted oak, raspberries, along with some herbal notes. At first its chewy tannins were overwhelming. Some time in the glass allowed it to mellow, lending more to its velvety name.

We found it to be a little disjointed--could use more time in the bottle, flavors are still too young and need to develop. One dimensional flavors will probably develop over time.

Body: Medium
Approx. Cost: $12
Food Pairing: Grilled pork or veal chops