Deep, bright red colour with a purple tint. The aroma is all about very ripe and attractive black fruits, with dark cherry and blackberry to the fore. There's a subtle trace of garden mint. It's almost essency, with medium to full-body and very good structure, the tannin backbone being well-judged and supportive for the fruit and flavour. Oak is in the background and subtly effective. A very smart merlot indeed, if a little clinical. Age may help that.