Best wine I've tasted lately

      Merryvale Vineyards, of St. Helena, Calif., always turns out dependable wines – rich, fruity, with no hard edges. Their 2006 Merryvale Pinot Noir, Carneros is even better than usual.

         The grapes come from the Stanly Ranch on the Napa side of Carneros, a good growing area cooled by fogs from San Pablo Bay. Vineyard workers sorted the grapes three times, in the vineyard, before de-stemming and again before crushing). T

           The wines were aged for eight months in French Oak.

            The result is a rich, full California-style pinot noir, with aromas and flavors of black cherries and bitter-sweet chocolate – smooth and creamy, with a long finish.

            The price is $35.