2020 Stratus Merlot [Member Request]

Added by special member request. Has not been tasted by Carl yet.

From the winery:

The young nose is still quite dense and has rich dark chocolate notes swaddled in fresh cherry and baked black plum aromas, and a little Dutch tobacco that grows in the glass. Already really appealing, forecasting a great future. The palate’s young expression of Merlot’s black fruit is still gaining weight: medium-plus to full-bodied already but all the components line up promising pure, full-bodied power. The midpalate shows a slightly inky, savoury quality that isn’t yet evident on the nose. The dark fruit isn’t tannic or drying but a light textural grain on the midpalate and growing finish confirm the 2020’s age worthiness.

From David Lawrason, WineAlign, 92 Points:

From one of Niagara's best vintages for Bordeaux varieties, this shows a classy, ripe nose blackberry/plummy fruit, chocolate, violet and fine herbs and spices. It is medium-full bodied, nicely balanced and youthful with a fairly plush mid-palate then firm tannin. The overall degree of ripeness is excellent, again thanks to the vintage.