BAR DOG RED WINE 2020, California

I'm usually a Cab drinker but this Merlot-heavy blend won me over — the cherry and plum come through strong without being too sweet. Tannins are super soft, so it went down easy with burgers on a Tuesday night.

Picked this up for a casual dinner and it disappeared fast. The cherry and plum notes are jammy without being too sweet, and the light tannins mean it goes down easy even if you're not a big red drinker.

The 86% Merlot really comes through with that soft cherry and plum thing going on, and the tannins are gentle enough that I poured a second glass without thinking. Paired it with burgers on a Tuesday and it felt like a small upgrade to the whole week.