JD97: The 2018 Merlot is beautiful, and I'd be hard pressed to come up with a better example of Merlot from the Valley. Coming from the old Thorevilos Vineyard (now the Ecotone Vineyard), it reminds me of a great vintage of Ch teau Figeac in Saint-Emilion and reveals a deep purple hue, gorgeous aromatics of black cherries, currants, leafy herbs, chocolate, and underbrush, full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and flawless overall balance and integration. Give it just a few years and enjoy over the following two decades.