Keep Wines Sonoma Broadway Farms Merlot 2019

This juicy, medium-bodied Merlot opens with fragrant notes of wild bramble flowers, fresh plum and red currant, followed by darker blackberry flavors and a subtle earthy edge. Bright acidity keeps the fruit lively and fresh while soft tannins lend an easygoing texture and a beautifully balanced finish. Approachable yet thoughtfully crafted, this is a versatile crowd-pleaser with plenty of character.

Sourced from organically farmed Broadway Farms in Sonoma, this Merlot showcases the freshness and elegance the variety can offer. The wine is pressed midway through fermentation to preserve its crunchy, vibrant fruit profile before aging for 18 months in neutral French oak, which softens the tannins without overwhelming the wine’s natural character. It’s a lovely expression of its vineyard and vintage. 400 cases produced.

Keep Wines is the project of winemakers Johanna Jensen and Jack Roberts, who craft bright, mineral-driven wines with an Old World sensibility and a minimal-intervention approach. Based out of Napa, they work with small, mostly certified organic vineyards from all over Northern California and have a passion for lesser known grape varieties. They handle much of the process themselves from vineyard to bottling and favor expressive wines with a sense of place and the potential to age gracefully. The winery’s name comes from the crest of Beverston Castle, an 11th-century Norman stronghold in Gloucestershire where Jack’s father was born and raised. All that remains of Beverston today is what you see -- the moat and the tall "keep" (from the middle english kype, or barrel). The keep was the defenders’ last refuge during a siege and a place to safeguard their most precious possessions, especially their wine.