This is an amazing merlot that's not too full bodied, but just right. It has cranberry and cherry notes and hints of tea and vanilla. I served it with a roasted orange duck with fall vegetables - acorn squash, brussel spouts and a kale salad. For dessert a black forrest cake was a no brainer. This was an amazing wine! “I completed this review in exchange for compensation and free product, but all views are my own."

This a medium bodied merlot, with a silky mouthfeel. The wine introduces itself with antique cedar, toasted oak, and dried herbs off the top of the glass, creating an initially rustic aromatic profile. These aromas fade deeper into the glass, revealing ripe cherry and cassis, with faint traces of vanilla. On the palate, the wine is only somewhat tannic, with the ripe cherry from the aromatics carrying over pleasantly, with the addition of what I’ll describe as ‘dark notes,’ imagine a faint dusting of grated dark chocolate or coffee grinds. The finish is lasting and pleasant, and rife with herbal notes. This is a textbook case of how to do merlot right. Pleasant, robust but not overpowering, versatile and uncomplicated. This particular bottle will age beautifully for up to five years. This is a red sauce, grilled meats, and spicy food wine. In particular, grilled steaks topped with blue cheese would be an excellent pairing. Lamb burgers stuffed with feta and topped with fresh basil would also pair quite nicely. Personally, I paired this with pasta topped with a spicy marinara and pan fried meatballs and it was absolutely delicious. However, much like cabernet sauvignon, merlot is a ‘wine for all seasons and all tables.’ Part of its beauty is in its versatility, and so there really are very few entrees that would risk being a ‘spoiler.’ In other words, feel free to experiment – have fun with it. In terms of ‘when’ to drink this wine, think dinner parties and family gatherings where substantial entrees of sauce or roast meat will be on offer. I completed this review in exchange for compensation and free product, but all views are my own.