Okay, so Chef Al stopped by and we are popping some red wines, so I pulled out this upgrade Merlot from Beringer. I am a big fan of their Napa Valley line, and love both the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay, but not the Merlot now that I have had it.

It's too damned dry!!!

The first thing that I tasted was the chocolate, and of course, I could also taste allspice; there is definitely some oak barrel aging going on here. The smell is magnificent and the color fit for any great red wine, but the taste is missing something. However, this wine has no middle, and that's the problem. It has spice, but is missing the depth that a Merlot can actually bring in both body and soul.

Maybe this bottle has been on the shelf too long, and if so, know that I will try a 2007 vintage if I can find it.