Raymond Reserve Selection Merlot 2022

98 points Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge The diverse terroirs create a wine of balance, depth, and finesse. Aromas emerge alongside warm baking spices, cedar, and a whisper of vanilla from well-integrated oak. The medium to full-bodied palate has a silky texture with a lovely depth and fresh fruit flavors layered with notes of chocolate and espresso. The finish is long and lingering, with echoes of dark chocolate, spice, and a refined minerality that speaks to the wine’s Napa Valley origins. 

93 Points Tasting Panel Violets burst from the glass and bloom on the palate, melding with a fine line of graphite that offers a slight grip before it lets go, giving way to sage and dark plum.