From selected small batches of wines, our Cellar Select wines represent the finest Llano has to offer.  Our goal is to produce a wine that exhibits the true expression of this variety from our best Texas vineyards.

The 2020 Cellar Reserve Merlot is mostly Merlot (79%) sourced from the high elevation (3,500’) Paka vineyard  (Terry County) in the Texas High Plains AVA.  The remainder of the blend is Cabernet Sauvignon 14% sourced from Dell Valley Vineyard (Hudspeth County) in far West Texas, and Sangiovese 7% sourced from Newsom Vineyard in the Texas High Plains AVA.  

We developed a new oak profile by using Boise Oak and integrated with Micro oxygenation over several weeks.  The blend was then pumped into neutral barrels, lees and all, during the third week of December.  Bottling occurred in late Summer 2021.

This wine exhibits a ruby red color with an almost opaque core.  Black fruits, mixed with toasty oak and herbal nuances comprise the aromatics of this wine.  The tannins are weighty but soft because of the low acidity, creating pleasant texture and a lengthy finish. This process creates a very food friendly wine, with some of our favorite pairings being roasted/grilled meats, BBQ, and Tex-Mex!