Two cheap experiments.  Buster Zinfandel is your typical high fruit, bright acid, layered melange of shallow zin under the band-aid–forgives all multitude of sins–of “Old Vines”. 13-9  ◊

The SM Merlot is at its absolute peak.  Dark and dusty with burnt rubber and clove and an AL nose. Reasonably drinkable, but boring and over.  Not tired, but boring.    ◊