Posted: 1/08/05 at 7:17PM | IP Logged

The 2002 Taft Street's have the new label with the barn door on the front.  Through all the label changes, I’ve liked the original label with the partial grape vine the best.

I got this bottle as part of the Fall President’s Club purchase.  I unfortunately didn’t have a chance to go, so I just bought a few random bottles.  This was one of them.

The old 1997 Sonoma County Merlot was very smooth and easy-drinking.  It wasn’t quite as tasty as the 1997 Central Coast at first, but as the Sonoma County matured, it actually later seemed to surpass the Central Coast in taste and complexion.

The 2002 Sonoma County Merlot is a deep burgundy color.  The wine tastes rather young and really seems to really lack complexion and is actually fairly thin.  Perhaps as with the 1997, this Merlot will also become much better as it matures.   

The wine is still decently smooth, and this does allow it to be fairly easy-drinking.  There’s little to no bitterness to it with only a slight hint of tannins at the end.