Blank Stare Sauvignon Blanc – Russian River Valley: Pour a bright pale gold with an enticing shimmer of jade. Opening aromatics pilfer from the glass as it pours—notes of key lime, Granny Smith apple, and hints of grapefruit, white pepper, frangipani, and minerality. On the palate, the entry is crisp and fresh with bright lemon-lime, a touch of grapefruit, and guava. The mid-palate and finish complement each other with a delicate and elegant fade of the tropical mangosteen and lychee framed by youthful acidity.

Slander Pinot Noir – California: Delivers a medium ruby core with a lucid rim that’s almost translucent. Aromatically, Bing cherry, briar fruit, and some raspberry give way to ripe strawberry and associated red fruits. Bright and enveloping on the entry, notes of fresh strawberry, watermelon, thyme, and a hint of funk come through. Spicy on the finish, the wine closes with a flash of blue fruit and lift.

Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley: An almost -black, opaque garnet core sits in the glass with slow-moving tears falling down the sides. Immediate aromatic notes of ripe cassis, charred ribeye, sandalwood, and freshly cut oak pilfer—breathe deeper for more. The first sip is a complex, layered conundrum of blackberry, black plum, fennel, licorice, and dark chocolate. More sips peel back the layers to reveal a rich and balanced wine with a deep cassis core. A sweet linger on the finish closes the wine with softly textured chalky tannins.

Advice from John Merlot – California: Dominating aromatics abound without effort—notes of blackberry pie, black plum, sage, and lilac come from the glass. A flooding sensation on entry drives dark fruits onto the mid-palate with touches of savory, fennel, and licorice as complements. Long on the finish, the espresso bean and continued concentration of blackberry throughout fades slowly with gentle and soft tannins.