2002 Pride Mountain Napa-Sonoma Counties Merlot

*Editors' Choice* What a fabulous Merlot. Yes, it‰۪s dense in texture, like molten metal, with melted tannins, but it‰۪s kept lively with clean acids. Meanwhile, the flavors are sheer mountain fruit: concentrated blackberries and cherries and decadent mocha. Complex, elegant and addictively good.