Medium ruby and staining.  Sweet ripe berry, dense concord grape and incredible briar tingles with just a tiny bit of lovely old-world funk layered over a tarry concentration of licorice and bright strawberry. Wow what a nose. Massive fruit from California but everything obvious of a Right Bank pedigree.

Did a little research on this wine after tasting it and sure enough, St. Emilion roots and fruit from Carneros. The Napa side. I really am thinking the best Merlot in the New World comes from Carneros! It Just. Keeps. Happening.

A touch of heat shines through the seamless transition of weedy earth in the nose to the structure in the mouth where acid and tannin rule in chalky graphite splendor over a fat chunk of blackberry jam. Everything goes on and on in the finish, rounding out what will easily be THE most age-worthy Merlot you have had this year–and quite possibly the BEST Merlot you’ve had this year.

2013 WORLD’S END Merlot Reserve Little Sister Napa Valley 15.0

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