Celani Family Vineyards, Napa Valley (California) 2018

 Tenacious is a Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend from Celani Family Vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley.  It is delicious and accessible, yet also sophisticated, with blackberry, black cherry, black plum, cassis aromas intertwined with sandalwood, vanilla and pencil lead.  In the mouth, it is smooth as silk, round and luscious with black fruits mingling with notes of pipe tobacco, dark chocolate and espresso.  It has Merlot’s plush fruit and Cabernet Franc’s savory flavors and tannins.  It will serve as a luscious companion for rare roast beef or lentil stew.  “I’ve always been a big Merlot fan,” said Tom Celani in a recent Zoom tasting.  “I collect Right Bank wines.  They like to blend Merlot and Cabernet Franc and we had beautiful Merlot on the property.”  The property includes a winery along with 17 acres of grapes and 120 olive trees, which he purchased in 2005 before he told his wife, Vicki.  His daughter, Olivia, who was also at the tasting said it was her mother came up with the name Tenacious.  Apparently, their distributor pleaded with him not to put Merlot on the label because of the effect the “Sideways” movie (released a couple of years earlier) had on Merlot sales.  While the name is interesting, the wine is delicious.