2023 Black Bench MerlotThe vintage year of 2023 was exceptionally cool (in many respects) in the Central Coast of California, especially in the historically celebrated viticultural region of the Cienega Valley. An exceptionally long growing season allowed the grapes to ripen to full and expressive maturity, evincing flavors of plum, mint and strawberry jam. Merlot, arguably an unfairly traduced grape variety, has gone somewhat sideways in recent years as far as public