Abeja Merlot 2020

Bright red-ruby. Lovely perfumed lift to the aromas of dark raspberry, cherry and sandalwood; as much red as black in character. Intensely flavored and sharply delineated, offering captivating inner-mouth perfumed lift to its dark berry and licorice flavors. A cooler and less pliant style than the 2015, but I love this wine's restrained sweetness, definition and light touch. This serious, refined, very youthful Merlot finishes with an element of medicinal reserve, dusty tannins and sneaky energy and length. I expect it to put on weight and gain in complexity with time in bottle. A classic presentation of the 2016 vintage.