Years ago winemaker Frederic Picard told me to forget Pinot Noir, Merlot would be the calling card of Huff. Fast forward and we see Huff winning awards for their Pinot and traditional sparkling … but the Merlot??? Well, in 2012 mother nature decided to help Frederic out with his dream … enter this Huff Merlot from their South Bay property – this one is really meaty with cassis, blueberry and wood smoke; tannins are a little raw at the moment but are tame-able with air or time (say 4+ years). The finish is long with smoky-dark fruit … finally a Merlot Fred can hang his hat on. Price: $40.00 – Rating: ****+