Above AveRIDGE Merlot...

[Enophile]

Last night we had the 1996 Ridge Merlot, Dry Creek Valley. Very nice CA Merlot nose, with ripe black cherry fruit, pleasant light herbal notes, balanced oak, and a bit of spice, maybe cinnamon. Good black
cherry fruit in the mouth, with balanced oak, light herbal, and spice. A softer style Merlot from Ridge, and yes, it suffers the same fate as many CA Merlots, a bit simple, and light in the mid palate and finish, but it's a respectable wine made for drinking sooner rather than later. Approx...85-86.