2005, Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Alexander Valley Merlot

This Merlot is dark crimson in color with glints of violet and ruby.  The aromas display black tea, black cherry, fresh blackberry and a hint of rose petal.  The extended oak aging lends notes of espresso, dark chocolate and cinnamon.  The long, even ripening helped create very fine-grained tannins that are coating, yet velvety, and perfectly balanced by the juicy berry fruit and sour cherry acidity.  Elegant and refined, this is a wine to drink now with BBQ tri-tip or roast pork Alternatively, because it is structured like the Merlots from Pomerol, it is able to age for three to four years for a softening of the tannins and emergence of secondary
aromas of leather, tobacco and tea.

Source: Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery