Dorian Gray has nothing on this fine Portrait — a blend of four red Bordeaux varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot hailing from the St. Helena and Napa Valley AVAs. The 2018 Ehlers Estate Portrait Red Blend arrives with delightfully broad shoulders and powerful hips with a warm mulberry color but that’s deep but not inky. (Take your favorite Prismacolor 995-garnet colored pencil and crosshatch over some indigo blots and you’re close).
The wine is redolent with the flavors of bramble berries and English rose and arrives with a quiet cedar kiss and a pinch of anise as it rolls over the palate. The mouthfeel is brawny and kicks up a bit of forest floor and a hint of pepper and a bright acidity that adds to its overall balance.
At around $72, the wine is appropriately priced for the value of its experience and would make a fine gift this season. If you’re going to send a portrait to your holiday card list, make it this one.
