#1 Wine Of The Year Of 2024 • "Delicious, velvety and mouth-filling, this wine could convert any merlot skeptic to being a fan. Mountain grown in the Stagecoach Vineyard and Waters Vineyard, it is intense and saturated with flavor, but wrapped in luscious tannins that tempt you to drink it now. Blueberries, creme de cassis, cherries, cream and mint. 100% merlot. Drinkable now, but best from 2028."

"A blend of fruit from Stagecoach and Waters Ranch (Pahlmeyer's estate vineyard), the 2021 Merlot is a real beauty. Scents of menthol, cedar and a hint of mocha accent the ripe black cherry core, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated and expansive, with a plush, velvety texture that extends through the long, mocha and meat-tinged finish. "

"Winemaker Katie Vogt says the 2021 vintage proved to be an excellent year, with even ripening, no major heat waves, low yields, tons of intensity, and perfect fruit quality. A harmonious 100% Merlot with serious intensity but balanced with acid freshness and mineral richness. Pretty lovely black cherry, plum, and blueberry fruit aromatics with sagebrush layered in. A soft and plush mouthfeel envelops the palate with a core of dense fruit flavours redolent of mountain-grown blackberries and spiced plums. The tannins are fine and powdery and build on the finish, gaining volume and intensity. A lovely, balanced, and delicious red."