Features
- Wine Name: Ellman Brothers Blend Proprietary Red
- Grape Variety: 81% Cab, 17% Merlot, 2% Cab Franc
- Region: Napa Valley
- Year: 2022
- Price: 150
- Winemaker: Andy Erickson
- Wine Club Package: Premier
- Wine Club Release Year: 2026
- Wine Club Release Season: Fall
Feature Description
The 2022 Ellman Brothers Blend is a Napa Valley red built around both place and possibility. Rather than being confined to a single vineyard, Brothers Blend brings together fruit from the Ellman Estate Vineyard and select Napa Valley vineyard partners, giving acclaimed winemaker Andy Erickson the freedom to shape a distinctive expression of each vintage.
Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the blend at 81%, providing structure, concentration, and length. 17% Merlot brings fresh blue-fruit character and softens the wine’s edges with round, polished tannins, while a small addition of 2% Cabernet Franc contributes another layer of aromatic and structural complexity. Erickson aged the wine in 59% new French oak, adding texture, spice, and subtle toasted character without losing the freshness of the fruit.
With just 950 cases produced, the 2022 Brothers Blend captures what makes blending so compelling. It is not simply Cabernet Sauvignon with supporting varieties added around it; each component plays a role in creating something more complete. Approachable and expressive today, yet possessing the structure and length to continue developing in the cellar, this is a polished Napa red that balances immediate pleasure with serious pedigree.
Tasting Notes
Rich and inviting from the first pour, the 2022 Ellman Brothers Blend opens with aromas of blueberry pie, fresh blackberry, sage, graphite, and fresh-cut wood. The palate is generous and fruit-driven, with concentrated dark and blue fruit unfolding into subtle layers of baking spice and toasted almond. Merlot lends softness and polish to the Cabernet Sauvignon-driven structure, while silky, rounded tannins create a smooth and beautifully composed texture.
Wine Pairing
The 2022 Brothers Blend has the richness for beef but enough blue fruit, herbal character, and polish to work beyond the predictable Cabernet pairings. Herb-crusted lamb chops, braised beef short ribs, duck breast with blackberry reduction, or grilled filet with wild mushrooms will complement its dark fruit and savory sage and graphite notes. Aged Gouda or smoked cheddar will bring forward the wine’s toasted almond and oak nuances, while a mushroom-forward flatbread or roasted vegetables with herbs can emphasize its earthier side.