Walnut Crest Merlot Valle Rapel Emiliana 2009

A rich, ripe, brawny red from Chile. This shows deep color, aromas of plum and smoke, with plum, light herbal and toast flavors in good balance. There's good concentration here for an unbelievable price; it will be better in 1996.

This Chilean Merlot is light and smooth, with distinctive herbal, berry and cherry aromas and flavors that remain narrowly focused on the finish. Drinkable now, but should be fine through 1996.

A fresh, very fruity Merlot, with lots of cherry and raspberry character, light tannins and a smooth texture. Just right for tonight.

A soft red with cherry and eucalyptus scents, this gentle, fruity wine is ready for pork chops off the grill.

The 1996 Merlot Reserve Estate Selection is a chunkier, fleshier wine with a dark ruby/plum color, low acidity, surprisingly fine extract, and a chocolate, herb-tinged, berry fruitiness that coats the palate. the wine is husky and lacks definition, but it provides a plump mouthful of red wine.

The 1997 Merlot is somewhat herbaceous, but ripe and soft, with low acidity, and a round, flat attack. Nevertheless, there is good fruit, and plenty of glycerin in an easy-going, understated style.

Walnut Crest Merlot is one of those little gifts of the wine world: a real red wine for just what you'd hoped to pay for it. It's always been a good wine; this vintage seems a little better. Typically Rapel in its smoothness and fine grape flavors of cassis, it also has a light touch of caramelized oak to balance. This is nothing more than a fresh, light and easy Chilean Merlot that does everything right. The sooner you drink it, the more you'll get out of it.