Country: US / Harris Vineyard
Variety: Merlot California
Winery: Nickel & Nickel / Oakville
Far more tannic and closed down than most Oakville Bordeaux red wines, this Merlot’s dry tannins are its main feature. It’s tough, dry and astringent, with a core of black cherries, currants and smoky oak. But it shows promise. Try cellaring through 2012.