Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Merlot presents warm aromas of boysenberry, plum and toasted oak with hints of violet and baking spice. A broad, velvety mouthfeel unfolds with flavors of black cherry, blackberry and creamy vanilla with hints of minerality. Gravelly tannins and fine acidity add stature to a deep, chewy finish.
The luscious textures of the 2018 Merlot are an excellent match for pasta with panseared lamb medallions, mushroom risotto, pasta ragu and steak with garlic butter.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Composed of steep mountain slopes of ancient Salinas River origins at 900 to 1,400 feet in elevation, Santa Margarita Ranch is in the southern portion of the greater Paso Robles AVA.