Nose of lavender, dark chocolate, silky dark red fruits, vanilla notes, uncrushed black pepper, pine bark, plum and driveway tar. Silky palate, medium to full bodied, that starts with ripe red fruits and evolves into slightly smoky flavors, with dark red berries, pencil shavings, more baked pie crust than pure vanilla, tobacco and tannins that grip lightly, but dance in the background of a dry, slightly hay like finish that lays meaty on the palate for quite a while.
Nose of lavender, dark chocolate, silky dark red fruits, vanilla notes, uncrushed black pepper, pine bark, plum and driveway tar. Silky palate, medium to full bodied, that starts with ripe red fruits and evolves into slightly smoky flavors, with dark red berries, pencil shavings, more baked pie crust than pure vanilla, tobacco and tannins that grip lightly, but dance in the background of a dry, slightly hay like finish that lays meaty on the palate for quite a while.
Feb 21st, 2026
Medium plus acid, medium plus body, medium tannin, black currant cedar tobacco, pencil shavings, subtle herbaceous - wish fruit matches tannins and acid
Medium plus acid, medium plus body, medium tannin, black currant cedar tobacco, pencil shavings, subtle herbaceous - wish fruit matches tannins and acid
Nov 14th, 2022
I really love this producer. It’s a shame that Merlot gets such a bad rap. A really nice Merlot gives you that plush dark fruit, velvety mouthfeel, and chocolate notes. Seriously, who doesn’t want velvety and chocolate notes?? My layman’s description is that Merlot is like a Cab without the tannins (sorta but not really).
Details: @jonataestate Fenix - 2016 - 58% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 615 Cases Produced. The winemaker, Matt Dees, describes the 2016 best as a “massive wine that somehow manages to remain delicately focused. Impenetrable and dense. Grounded by delicious and fine, chalky tannins. The joy here undoubtedly lies in the unctuous layers of black and red fruit that form a cascade in the middle of this wine.”
Rule #57 - Don’t be a Miles (Sideways movie), enjoy Merlot without shame.
I really love this producer. It’s a shame that Merlot gets such a bad rap. A really nice Merlot gives you that plush dark fruit, velvety mouthfeel, and chocolate notes. Seriously, who doesn’t want velvety and chocolate notes?? My layman’s description is that Merlot is like a Cab without the tannins (sorta but not really).
Details: @jonataestate Fenix - 2016 - 58% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 615 Cases Produced. The winemaker, Matt Dees, describes the 2016 best as a “massive wine that somehow manages to remain delicately focused. Impenetrable and dense. Grounded by delicious and fine, chalky tannins. The joy here undoubtedly lies in the unctuous layers of black and red fruit that form a cascade in the middle of this wine.”
Rule #57 - Don’t be a Miles (Sideways movie), enjoy Merlot without shame.
Nov 2nd, 2022
Santa Ynez Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
