CYCLES GLADIATOR MERLOT, 2017

Vintage: 2017, 2019
Alcohol: 14.5% 
Grape Variety: 80% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot
Aging: Neutral French oak barrels 
Region:  Central Coast, California, USA 
Food pairing: 
It tastes great alongside roasted foods like pork shoulder, roasted mushrooms or braised short ribs. Try complementing the fruit notes with chimichurri souce and Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna. 
Recommended service temperature: 18°C (64°F).
Tasting Notes:

• Intense ruby color with tile-colored sparkles.
• On the nose, you can smell black fruits such as sweet and sour cherries and notes of dried herbs.
• On the mouth the wine has a good structure, you can taste all the fruitiness, well-balanced tannins, and moderate acidity.

Wine Profile: 
This year saw dry weather and relatively mild growing conditions in the region. This produced beautiful small fruit, of very good quality and rich flavor. Blending in of another classic Bordeaux varietal, Petit Verdot, brings additional tannin and structure, along with herbal and floral notes.

Wine Enthusiast Opinion rank is 88 (Very Good)
Delicious black-fruit flavors are accented by baking spices like vanilla and cinnamon in this velvet-textured and full-bodied wine. The black cherry and black currant notes go deep and long. — Jim Gordon