Paradigm Merlot Oakville Napa Valley 2014

Heidi Barrett’s been making wine for Paradigm from the outset in the early 1990s, making them one of Napa’s most reliable top producers. This Merlot demonstrates that the grape can make wine every bit as good as Cab, with aromas of plums, smoke, black pepper, oak, and tarragon leading into a palate that’s invitingly soft but with firm tannins and a complex structure. Smooth and very drinkable.