A soft, sexy and luxuriously textured red, the 2014 Walla Walla Merlot (there's 6% Cabernet Franc in the blend) is loaded with perfectly ripe notes of black currants, lead pencil shavings, charred earth and chocolate. Full-bodied and possessing a wealth of fruit, you have to hunt for the tannin, but they're there; still, fruit and texture are the name of the game here. The baby fat should slowly melt away and it should have 15 years or more of longevity.

Aromatically, this wine is currently subdued, with the notes of raspberry, cocoa and cherry that haven't fully blossomed. The flavors meanwhile are generous and ripe, while still showing a fine sense of balance. Additional time in the bottle or a long decant should allow it to open up.

Dense, with cherry and herbal overtones wrapped in firm, fine, peppery tannins, swerving into a long, expressive finish. Needs time to soften the edges. Best from 2018 through 2023.-