Below & Above Merlot 2019

Plush yet reserved. Crushed eucalypt, mulberry and deep red fruits. Ruby-hued velvet comes to mind. Crushed red gravel on the nose; earthy and a little dusty with tannins that are firm yet inviting. Merlot is all about shape yet softness, and this has both of those qualities. A little more fruit on the palate than the nose would suggest, with a boost of freshness from cranberry-like acid lift. Dark chocolate mint crisp rounds things out. A balanced, yet safe, iteration of the grape; however, it’s not as lengthy a stay as expected.