how are these...

[Innkeeper]

1. Would age it at least three years. Their regular bottling (not reserve) is now made just about ready to go.

2. Oak bomb.

3. Give it at least to the end of year or decant it a hour ahead of time in a wide mouth decanter. We are still drinking '99s, but the producer is very consistant. The '00 has just been released, and it usually takes a year to open up completely.

4. The Napa Valley should be better than the California bottling.

5. Bogle and several recently posted from Washington state down under the Merlot thread.