Deep aromas of black fruits, cocoa, cured tobacco, botanical herbs and cedar are ripe but have plenty of verve. Round and luscious but also elegant and lively, with a minty quality to the black fruit and flinty flavors. Finishes long with big, youthful, chewy tannins. This Sicilian Merlot clearly benefited from the slightly cooler year and despite its hefty 14% alcohol, comes across as graceful and lithe. – I.D.
