The black cherry hues of this 2022 Vespertine Merlot promise a nose of complex fruit and creamy dark chocolate. The palate opens with punchy notes of plum balanced by hints of cherry and toasted spice. The Merlot is pleasantly dry with a medium to full body and robust tannins. The finish is smooth, long, and lingering with subtle notes of blackberry. This 2022 Merlot by Vespertine is cultivated in the Lodi region of Northern California, just 90 miles outside San Francisco. This historically rich farming area has moderate summers, cooled by the Sacramento Delta and blessed with ancient vines for grape growth. While this Vespertine Merlot is undoubtedly more than enough when sipped on its own, it can bring the best out of truly rich meat dishes such as filet mignon, a juicy medium-rare burger, or a rack of roasted lamb.