Rich Damson plum, French vanilla, blackberry jam. Fig puree, crushed violet, German chocolate cake. An imposingly plush and powerful parade of dark cherry, black licorice, and blueberry skin broods with dense and chewy concentration as notes of powdered cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel generously reveal layers of expressive oak influence. Hints of muddled mint, menthol, and tobacco gently impart clean herbal characteristics overlaid by suggestions of potpourri, lavender extract, and thick floral perfume. Impressions of glycerin, mocha, chocolate, and toasted graham cracker highlight additional waves of dessert-like decadence that largely overpower earthy reflections of volcanic soil, iodine, and smoke. Immensely broad-shouldered, ripe, and weighty on the palate with an intensely textured and velvety mouthfeel; exhibiting a massively muscular yet still soft presentation that comes across as brawny and unabashedly bold. Full bodied with high tannin backed by moderate acidity. This 2018 Napa Valley Merlot by Pope Valley Winery is a deep and extracted red from California.

Native to the French region of Bordeaux where it is a primary component of some of the region's greatest wines, Merlot is a legendary dark-skinned grape known for producing wines of world class complexity and texture. This bottling, crafted by Pope Valley Winery using Merlot sourced from their Napa Valley estate vineyard, is an excellent example of the luxurious plushness that this iconic grape can achieve. This wine generously spills gobs of thick and velvety dark fruits bolstered by warm baking spices, toasted oak, minty herbs, and subtle earthiness. Although enjoyable today for those who enjoy full-throttle and fruit-driven reds, this will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar to allow for its boisterous fruit to further mellow and integrate. Well done.