Keenan Mernet '18

This unique Merlot-Cabernet blend (65%/35%) from Keenan's high-elevation estate is a study in mountain-grown elegance. Opaque ruby with violet reflections, it offers a complex nose of black plum, violets, graphite, and a touch of espresso from 22 months in 50% new French oak. The palate is dense yet vibrant, with flavors of black cherry liqueur, dark chocolate, and polished tannins that Jeb Dunnuck (95 pts) calls "a Right Bank homage with Napa intensity." The cool 2018 vintage lends exceptional freshness (pH 3.68), suggesting a long aging window (2026–2040). Decant 2+ hours for herb-crusted lamb or cellar for future glory. Only 275 cases made.