title: Artesa 1997 Reserve Merlot (Sonoma Valley)
description: This is the kind of wine only severe lot selection can achieve. The flavors are deep and impressive, ranging from cassis to chocolate. Oak provides smoke and spice. It has that brilliant, velvety texture you expect from wines of this caliber, but, like so many such bottlings, it lacks the acidity to provide backbone.
variety: Merlot
designation: Reserve