2019 Bernardus Winery Merlot Carmel Valley Monterey 750 ml

Over thirty years ago, Bernardus planted several acres of Merlot in their Marinus Vineyard, nestled in Monterey’s lush Carmel Valley. At the very least, they wanted an element of silky richness for their estate Bordeaux blend. At best, a Merlot that could possibly stand on its own.

Forget “possibly.” The block yielded wine so good that it had to stand alone.

With this 2019, that vineyard block shouts its excellence from Monterey’s verdant hilltops. Every part of the wine is rich. The deep ruby color. The aromas of blackberry pie, violets, fresh tobacco, and toasted clove. And especially the palate, which is layered with silky black and red fruits, crushed gravel, and warm spices, all swathed in soft tannins.

The Carmel Valley is a hidden paradise for Bordeaux varieties. Tucked into the Santa Lucia Mountains, it’s surrounded by ridges that shield vineyards from the Pacific’s fog, but not its breezes. It’s a giant, sun-saturated bowl that traps heat, driving daytime temperatures above 100. Yet nightly maritime coolness drops the mercury as much as 50 degrees, refreshing the vines and slowing their ripening.

Seated at 1200 feet, Marinus is a patchwork of soils, ranging from fine sandy loam to clay loam. That might sound like a headache, but winemaker Dean De Korth loves navigating its complexities. He honed his winemaking prowess at some of the most iconic estates in Burgundy before returning home to Monterey. And now, as this 2019 shows, he’s channeled Old World complexity and balance into California’s succulent fruit and spice.

The result is a single-block bottling that shows California Merlot in all its satiny, succulent glory, a snapshot of distinct Central Coast terroir.