Educated Guess Merlot 2019,1048 (Roots Run Deep)

Cellar for up to 9 years. No need to decant before serving. Winemaker Mark Albrecht was so determined to set up his own wine label, he took a leap of faith and sold his house to obtain the necessary funds. His wines are inspired by his passion to make delicious yet serious wines at accessible prices, and in 2005 he launched his Educated Guess range with the help of friends and family. In a nod to Mark’s keen interest in both the art and science of winemaking, his bottles have stunning and intriguing label designs featuring chemical equations which outline the fermentation process. On every bottle there is a cryptic roadmap of symbols describing all the factors that go into making the wine inside. This attention to detail is also reflected in Mark’s approach to sourcing grapes which lead him to experiment with a huge variety of terroirs before settling on the fantastic Sangiacamo vineyard on the Sonoma side of Carneros. Like many of Mark’s wines, this stunning Merlot can easily compete with reds double its price tag thanks to his skill and the quality of the fruit he uses. The nose is deeply fragrant with notes of ripe plums, crushed berries and dark cassis, while the palate offers smooth tannins, a full body and a long, spiced finish.