The 2012 Malbec can compete with some of the big boys from Argentina. Aromas of coffee beans, blackberries, chocolate and vanilla jump from the glass of this opaque purple-colored wine. With exceptional intensity, sweet tannin and a long, rich, layered finish, this blend of 98% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in two-thirds new French oak should drink well for 8-12 years.

Concentrated hot stone and mulled spice notes accent the chiseled red plum, raspberry and cherry flavors. Hints of underbrush and smoke show on the finish.

Big and ripe, with plenty of roasted plum and spice flavors that are backed by fresh acidity. Dried green herb notes linger on the tannic finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

I tasted four separate Merlots from the great 2013 vintage for Bordeaux varieties. The 2013 Merlot Jackson Park (in Bennett Valley) is made from the Petrus clone of Merlot grown on clay and gravel soils. Dense and medium to full-bodied, it offers up notes of mocha, kirsch, black raspberry and blacker fruits as it hits the palate. A big wine at 14.5% natural alcohol, it exhibits moderate tannins and was aged in all French oak, of which 26% was new. The tannins suggest this wine would benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, then would appear to have at least two decades of aging potential. It is a big, promising wine with a relatively high ceiling, so don’t ignore it.

At one time, believe it or not, there was a merlot craze and Matanzas Creek was near the head of the pack of producers who gave this important Bordeaux grape variety in a world dominated by cabernet sauvignon. That ship sailed long ago, but Matanzas continues to treat merlot with respect and typically makes one of the best in California. The 2013 exhibits richness and intensity, with juicy red and black fruits and hints of wood spice, and enough grip on the finish to suggest this one's good for another seven to 10 years in a proper cellar.

The 2013 Proprietary Red Journey, a blend of 90% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot aged 20 months in French oak, of which 80% was new. This deep ruby/purple wine offers up a big, sweet kiss of black cherry infused with espresso and mocha, followed by medium to full-bodied opulence, lushness, excellent purity and depth. It is expensive, but there are only 500 or so cases.

A real star from a vineyard planted by Kendall-Jackson’s famed French winemaker Pierre Seillan is the 2012 Merlot Jackson Park. This is a 900-case cuvée aged in French oak, of which 43% was new. It’s 97.5% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This is a gorgeous wine, still young and primary, but inky/purple-colored with copious notes of black cherry fruit, graphite, vanillin, coffee bean and a hint of fudge. It’s ripe, full-bodied, powerful, brawny, quite backward and primordial. Give it another several years of bottle age and drink it over the following 15-20 years.

Smooth and rich with velvety texture and lots of ripe berry fruit; deep, elegant and balanced; juicy and long.

The 2012 Merlot Alexander Valley is dark, rich and powerful, with plenty of savory/mineral overtones. This is another energetic, intense wine built a sense of pure energy. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco and new leather add multiple shades of dimension. The French oak is a bit evident today, but that is a small quibble for a wine that delivers so much personality.

Silky and toasty with bright plum and soft herbs; dense, stylish and balanced; long and generous.

Inky ruby. High-pitched red fruit and floral aromas are complicated by notes of spicecake, cracked pepper and smoky minerals. Nervy and precise in the mouth, offering spicy red currant and bitter cherry flavors that put on weight with aeration. In a distinctly lively style, with noteworthy tension and tangy acidity adding lift and cut to a long, youthfully tannic finish. I'd give this wine at least another three or four years of bottle age.

Perhaps the finest Merlot Matanzas Creek has produced since the 1990s, the 2010 Merlot displays an opaque ruby/purple color along with notes of mocha, white chocolate, black currant and black cherry fruit, and spicy oak in the background. This full-bodied, opulent, seductive Merlot possesses adequate acidity and velvety tannins. Consume it over the next decade.

Dark and lush with pure plum and blackberry fruit; smooth and toasty with lovely balance and soft herbal complexity; good balance and acid structure; long and rich. 96% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2010 Red Wine is juicy, expressive and very nicely balanced. Raspberry jam, flowers, grilled herbs, mocha, violets, French oak, graphite and tar all meld together. This is an especially seamless wine for the year. The firm Knights Valley tannins are well-balanced. A juicy, explosive finish rounds things out nicely. The 2010 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 4% Malbec. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2022.

The 2009 Red Wine, mostly from Alexander Valley fruit, bursts from the glass with expressive dark red berries, flowers, mint and licorice. It shows lovely delineation and focus in an understated, gracious style. Layers of fruit build toward the plush, generous finish. This is another totally delicious, engaging wine. The 2009 Red is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Malbec aged in French oak barrels (67%) new. It is a selection of the best barrels at Matanzas Creek. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017.

Glass-staining ruby. An impressively complex bouquet displays blackcurrant, kirsch, lavender and smoked meat. Deep, chewy red and dark fruit flavors are given spine by zesty minerals and grip by dusty tannins. Becomes deeper and sweeter with air, finishing with a strong kick of candied licorice. This is built to age.

With a medium body and supple tannins, this Merlot delivers a heady amalgam of plums, cherries, cassis, vanilla, a touch of licorice, hints of cloves and other spices. The wine embodies everything that terrific Merlot can offer, including power, grace and complexity.

Tasted in January, this Merlot was still quite unresolved. Oak dominated, with its characteristics, vanilla and caramel notes, while underneath was a substantial core of cherries, blackberries, currants, cocoa and roasted almonds, reminiscent of a granola bar. It's a distinguished Merlot, but one that wants a few years in the cellar.

Suave blackberry backed by tangy acidity; silky and bright with gorgeous structure and flavors.

The 2017s From Sonoma Moving to the reds, the 2016 Desvelado checks in as 51% Malbec, 48% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot sourced all from the cooler Bennett Valley AVA. It has loads of blue fruits, graphite, violets, and chocolate covered orange peel notes as well as medium to full body, silky tannins, and terrific balance. It leans more toward the fresh, elegant, complex end of the spectrum, has an exotic, complex bouquet, and is certainly an outstanding wine.

The 2015 Encantadora is a new Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend from Matanzas Creek. Pliant and generous, with plenty of savory top notes from the Franc make for a compelling wine. The 2015 needs a year or two to come together, but it is already super-expressive and very pretty.

The 2015 Armoniza is a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot-based blend from vineyards in Knights Valley. Bright, punchy and fruit-driven, the 2015 offers plenty of immediacy, although it also has the depth, structure and savory freshness to develop a good bit of complexity over the next few years, maybe more.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Blended of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Malbec, the 2015 Armoniza is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and opens with expressive cassis, plum preserves and wild blueberry scents with touches of cigar box, yeast extract and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied with a firm, chewy texture, it delivers a good amount of warm black fruit and earthy nuances, finishing peppery.

The 2014 Desvelado is a new Merlot-based wine from Matanzas Creek. Succulent, forward and racy, the 2014 has quite a bit to offer. The blend of Merlot with dollops of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot works very well. Best of all, the 2014 will drink well upon release.

The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc spent most of its time in concrete eggs and neutral oak puncheons. This wine is a beauty – elegant, with crushed rock, citrus oil, lemon blossom, and touches of honeysuckle and white peach. It has the texture of a Chardonnay, but the crisp acidity, minerality and citrus components one would expect in a Sauvignon Blanc. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.