2002 Silverado, Merlot, Napa Valley

Dark garnet color. Cherry, chassis on the nose. Big forward fruit with black cherry, red cherry and current fruit flavors, moderate acid, fair amount of hard tannins mixed with the fruit flavors on the finish. This is a big fruity Merlot. The only possible problem is that it tastes just a touch overripe. It clearly needs a few years of aging to soften out the surprising hard tannins (more hard tannins than the Cabernet Sauvignon). Alchole is 14.6%. List price is $28. My rating is 85.

According to the notes from the winery it is 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The vineyards used for this wine are 50% from the estate Mt. George Vineyards, 34% from the estate Stags leap vineyard and 16% from other non-estate Napa Valley vineyards.