($35): Clos du Val, one of the pioneer Napa Valley wineries, fortunately has never varied from it style that values finesse over power.  Admirable restraint in this clean Merlot allows you to savor it.  Though focused on fruit flavors, an appealing earthiness, characteristic of Merlot, appears in the finish.  Polished tannins add to its appeal and make it easy to enjoy now.  This is a wine you want to drink with dinner, not just taste, because it reveals more of itself as it sits in the glass.
90 Michael Apstein Oct 22, 2013