Intense, keenly focused aromas of sweet cherries and creamy oak make for an irresistible start here, and, while rich oak does push its way slightly to the fore in the mouth, this commendable Merlot wins the nod for its overall sense of fruit and varietal precision. Medium-full-bodied, slightly supple and smoothly finished with fine-grained tannins lending a touch of grip, it needs only a few years of additional cellaring before it finds its prettiest face