The 2013 Merlot Filip is going to need at least a few years to come into its own. Today, the wine is tightly wound and still in a phase of bottle shock. Savory aromatics, dried rose petal, bright red stone fruit and menthol open up over time, but only with great reluctance. The 2013 was more impressive when I tasted it from barrel. I suspect this needs time in bottle to be at its best.

It is virtually impossible to pick a favorite between Miani’s 2013 Merlot Filip and the 2013 Merlot Buri; the former is flintier and fresher, the latter more voluptuous and unctuous, but both are absolutely world-class Merlot wines with years of positive development ahead of them. The delicate coffee, cocoa and violet nuances of the Filip and the smoky, cocoa and creamy coffee reduction notes of the Buri only added levels of complexity to the exuberantly fresh black and blue fruit aromas and flavors of both.