Brilliant ruby with pink edges.  Fresh-baked bread and a nice mint headed into pencil shavings.  That’s about where it ends.  Nothing opulent or obtuse, just moderately ripe, round and warm.  Clean in the mouth, just clean and non-committal like I suppose Merlot should be at this PP, a nice tarry counter-point to the medium-rich fruit with a spicy acidity making sure you do not mistake this for super-market-plonk.  No flaws, just clean and round and easy-drinking and moderate peppery tannins wrap things up.  Nothing mind-blowing–but nothing disappointing.  A quite nice, unsurprising bottle doing its job.  14-5 and barely tastes of it.   ♦