BOGLE MERLOT 2021

Clarksburg's Sacramento River Delta runs cooler than most of inland California — cold breezes off the river push through dense clay soils to give Merlot here a structure you don't expect at this price point, and Bogle Family Vineyards has farmed this ground for six generations. Certified under California's Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing, the estate sources fruit from over 2,000 acres and ages this Merlot 12 months in American oak. The nose leads with Bing cherry, sassafras, and pipe tobacco; the palate is plush and dark-fruited — black plum, cacao — before cedar and sweet herbs carry the finish.