2005 Penfolds Rawson's Retreat Merlot

Smooth as a whistle. A calm, balanced juice that should be even better next year. Yes, yes, OK, it's dirt cheap. So, buy a case. Recent History: the PRR Mer emerged from the 54 degree fridge at about 7:30 and was allowed to warm for awhile. Concurrently, the future consumer was himself a 'cooling in le 72 degree Plunge. Then: matched in heaven to a creamy pasta dish a la Josephine, fruit arranged a la Lin. Just the combo to offset the convo: multi event wedding planning; in-law personality intermixing (certain presidents, Roger, Jack, BB&V, Chimpy et al); the possible inadvisibility of fluffy, puffy wedding dresses; illicit labrador aubergine/cherry tomato consumption; and, finally, the deep, intense red of ADB's sun-burn. The Penfold's gradually disappeared through it all, nudging aside his boxed vino cousin.