The 2010 Santa Carolina Merlot Reserva, aged in French oak for 9 months, is a light to medium bodied, fruity wine with notes of blackberry, prune and smoke. It has subtle to refined tannins (decant for 15 min) and a medium finish. Drink now and for the next 2 years. My impression: NOTHING SPECIAL to NICE, 87 pts - great value for $12. Tasted Sept/11.

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Full bodied with good concentration. Smokey plum flavour (hIckory BBQ sauce?), coffee. Some tannin, good sweet/sour balance. Easy drinking.

A very heavy wine for me and a bit too sour on the finish. It definitely had some smoky and coffee flavours.