2013 Merlot Zayante Vineyard

The 2013 Zayante Merlot is sourced from a dry farmed organic vineyard site which produces some of the best red grapes in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This Merlot has a concentrated dark garnet red core moving to pink hues on the rim. The nose displays notes of black cherry, blackberry and black plum with accents of leather, fresh tobacco leaf, violets, chai spices, coconut and turned earth. The palate is medium plus in body with a kiss of perceived sweetness to the fruit. Flavors on the palate confirm the nose with ripe fruit flavors of black plums, red currant, leather, tobacco, baking spices and damp earth flavors. This wine is delicious now, but young at this point and will really hit its stride about 2020. If drinking within the first 5 years, decant this wine for a minimum 1 hour and serve just under room temperature (around 60-65 degrees) in a large Bordeaux stem, and with food, ideally some red meat. Stop by the shoppers corner in Santa Cruz for a bone-in ribeye, serve it med-rare with a few bottles of this Merlot and you are in for a good night.