title: Brave & Maiden 2012 Estate Limited Merlot (Santa Ynez Valley)
description: Brooding on the nose, this bottling by a newer producer shows crushed herbs, slate, leathery blackberry and blueberry fruit, smoked meats and a touch of minty tobacco. There is great structure on the palate, with fine-grained, chalky tannins presenting blackberry fruit, black-pepper spice, oak smoke and touches of crushed oregano.
variety: Merlot
designation: Estate Limited