I have always thought that for a mainly white wine producer (known for their 4 different block, vineyard specific Rieslings), Thirty Bench does a heck of a job with their reds. Take this small lot Merlot for instance, which is a 294 case production, it has all the goods a delicious Merlot should have, especially from a rather difficult vintage. The nose is rich in fruit like blueberry, blackberry and a hint of spiced raspberry - there's also a bit of earthiness and some alluring chocolate notes. The palate is the star here delivering what I would call a really juicy hit of fruit right on the mid-palate: smooth red and black berries with touches of spice and pepper ... on the mid you'll also find black cherry, which should wow the mouth. Price: $40.00 - Rating: **** 1/2