2022 Merlot
A bold expression of a Bordeaux classic
$35
Retail
$28
About the Wine
The 2022 JUSTIN Merlot shows a serious side of this popular grape variety. In the past, the merlot grape had received a reputation as a soft, cushy, easygoing variety, but this wine proves that it can hold its own. Full-bodied with ripe fruit, a classic Bordeaux-style savory character, and firm tannins, this wine is a complex version of Merlot that announces to the world that this is a grape variety with serious intentions.
Tasting Notes
Body
Appearance
Moderate ruby red from core to rim with little variation, light staining in the glass, and slow-forming tears.
Aroma
A moderately intense bouquet of violet and lilac, followed by juicy blackberry, black plum, bay leaf, and dried savory herbs.
Palate
Dry, full-bodied, and supple on entry with lush black cherry and plum. The same fruit on the nose is darker and richer on the palate, wrapped in subtle oak notes of warm vanilla and sweet tobacco leaf. Well-integrated tannins and subtle hints of mint make for a pleasant and moderately long finish.
Key Features
Appellation
Paso Robles
Fermentation
Stainless steel closed-top tanks with UV43 yeast and twice-daily mixing
Maturation
Barrel-aged for 17 months in French oak
Alcohol
15.5%
SUGGESTED FOOD PAIRINGS
Pork Chop
The 2022 Merlot is full-bodied with dark fruit and mouth-filling tannins, making it a great pairing with leaner meats like charcoal grilled pork chops with a plum glaze or blackened chicken breast with succotash.
