1996 Profile

The dense plum/purple-colored 1996 Profile Proprietary Red Wine (a blend of Merryvale's finest lots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc) boasts a persistent sweet, ripe blackberry, prune, and licorice-scented nose. With full body, an opulent texture, a chewy, fleshy personality, and adequate underlying acidity and tannin, it can be drunk now and over the next 12-15 years. Tel. (707) 963-2225; Fax (707) 963-1949

Full ruby-red. Plum and chocolate cough syrup on the nose, along with a hint of raisin. Full and fleshy but a bit flat in the middle, lacking verve. Finishes with good length but the tannins are somewhat gritty. Also tasted: 1998 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve Napa Valley*, 1997 Chardonnay Reserve Napa Valley.