The 2003 Merlot is better out of bottle than it was from cask. An explosively rich wine that ranks among the finest Merlots I have tasted from California in the last decade, it boasts an incredibly perfumed nose of espresso roast, mocha-infused chocolate, blackberry, cassis, cherry liqueur, and smoke. With an enormous texture, fabulous concentration, a packed-and-stacked mid-palate, and an explosive intense, ripe, long finish, this stunning wine is extraordinarily complex and savory. Anticipated maturity: now-2020.

Chateau St. Jean's red wine program represents reasonably good value. The 1996 Merlot Reserve offers subtle aromas of creosote, black cherries, dried herbs, and vanillin. In the mouth, toffee notes mix with sweet, creamy wood, chocolate, and berries. Medium to full-bodied, closed, with moderate tannin in the finish, this Merlot requires 2-3 years of cellaring. It should keep for 12-15 years.

Firm, rich and chewy, with a complex, mature range of Merlot flavors, it\'s built like a sturdy Cabernet. Hints of dried currant, anise, cedar and stewed plum end with a taste of fresh earth, and while the wine is concentrated and tannic, the tannins smooth out on the finish.--1995 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2012. 150 cases made. –JL

This wine has an imperfection.

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