Stags' Leap Cellars, Merlot, 2019, 14.1% abv.

Supposedly 94% merlot, 5% petite sirah, and 1% malbec and aged in 100% French oak barrels (35% new) for 19 months. Part of a lunch with several other bottles of Duckhorn and BV, and one delicious Malescot, (some previously posted). Yes, the glassware is not designed for wine-drinking. The Chinese food was great.

Nose: after popping ans 1 hour later the aromas are mellow, slightly jammy, purple grapes, from the initial aromas I was not expecting much other than a light red wine, but then again the rim was quite wide on these glasses.

Palate: medium to full bodied, immediately after opening it is flavorful; sweet, tart, and savory; grape jam, dark cherries, candied plums, sweetened raspberry compote, somewhat unexpected for such a young merlot. After 1 hour overall flavors transformed from a very flavorful profile to one with relatively reduced intensity, but still a collection of fruit and dark fruit jams. Also included was a floral smokey note, but I believe I might be mistaking the light tannic minerality as a smokey note.

Finish: short, feeling some slight dryness which strengthens on subsequent sips, long on wax coating the teeth, grapeskins.

Vernacular: mellow nose of jammy grapes. Medium body, dry, medium to high acidity, medium minerality, fine to medium grained tannins, little oak influence, minimal alcohol. Short finish, dry, tannic.

I couldn't really pay attention to the pour at this event, but it punched above its weight. I like this bottle. James Suckling gave this a 93 in 2022.

Grade: C+