The 2007 Twomey Merlot is a beautiful example of what this noble variety can achieve in an excellent vintage: suppleness, complexity and great expression of berry fruit. It has a dark ruby color and a nose of fresh, ripe black cherry and blackberry, dark chocolate and what the French call “torifaction”, the alluring smell of roasting coffee. On the palate, it has an attack full of explosive fruit and violets prolonged by plenty of umami, the savory fifth taste. It has a long finish echoing berry fruit and chocolate and grainy well-integrated tannins that promise excellent cellaring potential. This Merlot will continue to give drinking pleasure through 2022.