77% merlot, 23% cabernet sauvignon. Lush and pretty, you can definitely taste the cab influence here, making for a surprisingly deep merlot that’s lush with notes of raspberry and blackberry, layered with gentle notes of violets and a healthy slick of licorice. Chocolate hangs on to the finish, with a sharp, tart berry component on the back-end — turning toward a darker cocoa powder as it fades out. Gritty at times at the conclusion, but immersive and dripping with fruit. Lovely.

Also available as part of Ehlers’ Estate Series gift box (pictured).

A- / $69 / ehlersestate.com

2019 Ehlers Estate Merlot St. Helena

$69

9

Rating

9.0/10