Abeja Merlot Columbia Valley 2022 (750ml) Kerner A torontel from a vineyard

A torontel from a vineyard planted more than 90 years ago in the Caliboro zone of the Maule Valley's dry secano interior is the base for this delicious orange wine that has been offering a softer and more elegant take on this style since its first vintage in 2016

presumably with French winemakers who were leaving Bordeaux in the late 1800s as phylloxera was devastating the region

a relatively unknown cousin of the Malbec grape grown in Southwestern France near Cahors

a slight note of red tootsie roll pop

the fruit of the aromatic grapes composing it presents itself first

Abeja Merlot Columbia Valley 2022 (750ml) Kerner A torontel from a vineyardThis one hundred percent Merlot has really nice, bright red fruit, rose petals, and a richness on the nose. Flavors of plum, mountain strawberry and mocha come together with a balanced mouth feel and a long finish. Though it was a cooler vintage, I feel we have still captured the powerfully elegant style for which we are known. "Moderately saturated bright red ruby. Sexy aromas of dark raspberry, mocha, red licorice, tobacco, minerals and cocoa nibs