Mer Soleil Pinot Noir Reserve Santa Lucia Highlands 2017

90 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "[$40 list] Bright ruby-red. Cherry cola, black raspberry and candied rose scents are complemented by suggestions of roasted coffee, vanilla and star anise. Palate-coating red and blue fruit, mocha and spicecake flavors show very good depth and take on a spicy aspect with aeration. Clings strongly on the long, smoky finish, which is given shape by subtle, well-knit tannins. Definitely on the rich side as Pinot goes, but there's unlikely energy here as well. Drink: 2021-2027. (Nov 2019)"

Producer notes: "With the alluring color of dark plums, this wine features scents of ripe cherries with cocoa, pomace, blueberry, toasted wood and a soft, powdery whiff of old-fashioned lipstick. The palate is all about texture – entry is soft, with a round, complete quality. Flavors of cherry cobbler mingle with cola notes and hints of anise. Tannins are structured yet extremely fine, providing a lush, lingering mouthfeel. On the finish, a wisp of acidity adds balance and freshness, a reminder of this wine’s origins in a cool, coastal region of California."