Our 2023 Merlot

Aged on oak for 5-ish months, this Merlot is tasting delish, with hints of blackberry, black cherry, and even applesauce (?!). It also has some peppery notes. Like back-of-your-throat, slightly tingly pepper notes. It’s different and we’re all about it. 

And if you’re okay with us waxing poetic for a moment, we want to say that the striking ruby color of this Merlot reminds us of the male Anna’s hummingbird flashing his garnet throat as he darts around the desert, sipping on the nectar of native Sonoran flowers. 

Tasting may be romanticized, but believe us, it's not magic. You may taste the subtle blend of flavors differently than we do depending on numerous factors, but here's what we discovered with this Merlot: 

Tastes we noticed: Black fruit, citrus, cooked fruit, black pepper, and, due to some extended time with the lees, a creamy finish.

Food we liked with it: Classic Italian food. Aged hard cheeses and anything with red sauce; heck, we even added a cup to our pizza sauce!

Food we didn't: Raw onions. Not that we are a huge fan in the first place, but the creamy finish and bite of the onion just don't play nice.

• Grape Type: Merlot
• Grape Source: Block 7, Sunada Smoot Vineyard of Chateau Robles in Paso Robles, CA
• AVA District: Geneseo District
• Vineyard Sustainability: third-party certified sustainable
• ABV: 13%
• Harvest Date: October 15, 2023
• pH: 3.48
• Brix: 24.3
• Titratable Acidity: 6.6 g/L