Trefethen Estate Merlot 2004

For good or bad, this wine reflects the really big, powerful California style of wine making. Dark fruits of plum and blackberry combined with toast on the nose. The palate coats the mouth with rich, chewy and chalky tannins. Maybe a little too powerful for my taste -- it lacks a certain degree of elegance at the end of the day. Two and a half stars out of five.