The Ch. Souverain Alexander Valley Merlot 1992 was stored properly
since release and had no cork or other issues. The color is still deep
with only little evidence of age around the rim. The wine is fully
ready, but likely will hold fairly well. It does taste and smell
somewhat like a top French Merlot such as Petrus and a few vineyards
close to it that produce wine from pure or nearly pure Merlot grapes.
However it is a much smaller, much less intense, and less complex wine
than the mentioned French Merlot stars.

I never was very interested in the California Merlot wine craze
several few years ago, and most of the few I tasted did nothing to
make me want to buy many more. This wine got a very favorable review,
I believe in the Underground Wine Letter, and was rated 18/20 and was
thought to be age worthy. I drank the first of 2 bottles after a few
years, and decided it needed much more age to satisfy my taste.
Fortunately the second bottle reported here developed very well with
age.