1996 Beringer Howell Mountain

[Bucko]

1996 Beringer Merlot, Howell Mountain, Bancroft Ranch, $75 retail. Smoky nose, this wine has luscious blackberry and blueberry fruit, impeccible balance, firm but
soft tannins, and can you say......
.
.
.
. (scroll down)
.
.
.
.
OAK!!!!!! Holy Cow Batman, the bridge over the River Kwai did not have this much oak!! A beautiful wine ruined by smoky oak. Carole took one sip, turned up her nose, and poured it down the drain. When are CA winemakers going to wake up?

Bucko

[Thomas]

Beringer seems to have gone nuts with oak in their so-called "big" wines.