Paraschos 2019 Venezia Giulia Merlot

Grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and macerated in open-topped wooden vats for 20 days without refrigeration. Hand punch-downs are performed about 4-5 times per day. The skins are pressed to stainless steel tanks for about 4 days at cellar temperature. Then the wine is racked, with the fine lees, to 2500 and 500-liter oak barrels for elevage.

Medium to full bodied, blackberry, plum, earth and spice. Has a touch of grit underlined by the silkiness of Merlot. Some deeper notes of smoke, dried leaves, and pine come through as well.