2013 Donkey & Goat Merlot Blakeman Vineyard

Brilliant ruby-red. Smoke-accented cherry and blackberry on the nose, along with suggestions of licorice, cracked pepper and spicecake. Silky and focused on entry and then deeper in the midpalate, offering juicy red fruit and rose pastille flavors and an exotic touch of cinnamon. Shows impressive depth of flavor while conveying an impression of litheness. Finishes juicy and very long, displaying repeating spiciness, a hint of bitter cherry pit and sneaky, fine-grained tannins. There's only 12.7 percent alcohol here, by the way.