“Oyster Bay has combined the bright berry/cherry fruit for which Merlot is known with a fine tannin structure that makes it an ideal companion for a variety of meat and pasta dishes. My note: Lovely, rich, dare I say unctuous? New Zealand excels at pinot noir (and of course Sauvignon Blanc), but I think their merlots are lovely too: elegant and balanced. Score: 89.5/100.”