I don’t Usually get all nutty about international varieties grown and made in Italy – after all they have plenty of indigenous varieties to choose from, so why would someone even bother? But then I tried this Merlot from Zenato made from 45 year old vines in the Veneto region and realized that maybe sometimes you have to bend your own rules. The nose is blueberry, black cherry and mocha, which makes its way to the palate intact in a smooth and silky way then adds some cassis, spice and well-balanced tannins to the mix.  Price: $75.00 – Rating: **** ½