Steele Wines Steele Stymie Reserve Merlot 2012

Steele Wines Steele Stymie Reserve Merlot 2012 is a full-bodied, reserve-level Lake County Merlot in a standard 750ml bottle with an estimated ABV of approximately 14.5%. Sourced exclusively from the Silva and Jacobsen vineyard properties—sites selected to represent the best fruit in Lake County—this bottling earned 88 points from Wine Enthusiast, which praised its concentration, complexity, and velvety tannin structure.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Lake County, California  |  Vintage: 2012  |  Producer: Steele Wines

Production & Heritage

Steele Wines was founded in 1991 by veteran winemaker Jed Steele in Kelseyville, California, following his influential years at Kendall-Jackson. The Stymie designation sits at the top of the Steele portfolio, reserved for lots that demonstrate exceptional depth and character from Lake County's volcanic soils. Grapes for the 2012 were gently de-stemmed and fermented at temperatures held below 90°F to preserve fruit integrity, then aged for 22 months in a combination of American and French oak barrels before bottling.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with pronounced oak and baking spice, followed by waves of dark chocolate, jammy fruit, tobacco leaf, and cracked black pepper. With time in the glass, a subtle earthy undertone emerges.

Taste: The entry is rich and concentrated, coating the palate with ripe red currants and anise before moving into a mid-palate layered with chocolate-covered cherry and peppery warmth. A thread of coffee adds savory complexity as the wine builds toward a generous, full-bodied peak.

Finish: Medium-long and seductive, carried by fine, velvety tannins that frame lingering notes of dark fruit and spice. The oak influence integrates well at this stage of the wine's maturity, providing structure without dominating.

How to Drink Stymie Reserve Merlot

At over a decade of age, this 2012 is best served at cellar temperature (60–65°F) and given 20–30 minutes of air after opening, either by decanting or simply resting in a large-bowled glass. It drinks beautifully on its own but also works in wine-forward cocktail formats: a Kalimotxo riff using a small pour alongside quality cola and a citrus twist plays off the wine's dark fruit; a New York Sour substitutes Merlot for the traditional red wine float, adding chocolatey depth over bourbon; and a classic Sangria built around this wine benefits from its jammy concentration and spice backbone.

Best For

• Gifting a Merlot enthusiast who appreciates aged, library-release wines
• A dinner-party centerpiece alongside braised short ribs or osso buco
• Adding a mature California red to a personal wine collection
• Exploring Lake County as a serious appellation beyond Napa and Sonoma

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stymie Reserve Merlot taste like? This is a rich, full-bodied Merlot dominated by dark chocolate, red currant, anise, and peppery spice, all supported by fine, velvety tannins. The 2012 vintage shows additional complexity from over a decade of bottle age, with tobacco and coffee undertones.

How does Stymie Reserve compare to the standard Steele Lake County Merlot? The Stymie Reserve is a step above the regular Steele Merlot, sourced from specific top-performing vineyard blocks (Silva and Jacobsen properties) and aged longer—22 months in oak versus shorter periods for the standard bottling. The result is a more concentrated, layered wine with greater structure and aging potential.

Is Stymie Reserve Merlot good for sipping neat? Absolutely—this wine was made to be appreciated on its own, especially now that the 2012 vintage has had time to integrate its oak and soften its tannins into a smooth, complex drinking experience.

Where is Stymie Reserve Merlot made? It is produced by Steele Wines in Kelseyville, Lake County, California, using Merlot grown on the Silva and Jacobsen vineyard properties within Lake County's high-elevation growing region.

What foods pair well with Stymie Reserve Merlot? Braised lamb shanks complement the wine's velvety tannins and dark fruit. Aged Gouda mirrors its richness and slight caramel undertones. Grilled portobello mushrooms echo the earthy, savory notes. Dark chocolate truffles highlight the cocoa and coffee threads. Herb-crusted beef tenderloin stands up to the wine's full body without overwhelming its complexity.

What sizes does Stymie Reserve Merlot come in? The Steele Stymie Reserve Merlot 2012 is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Stymie Reserve Merlot worth the price? The Stymie Reserve positions as a premium expression within the Steele lineup, and its 22 months of oak aging, single-property sourcing, and 88-point Wine Enthusiast rating place it competitively among reserve-tier California Merlots at a similar price tier.

Why Stymie Reserve Merlot?

What separates the Stymie Reserve from the broader Merlot market is its site-specific sourcing and Jed Steele's decades of winemaking experience in Lake County, a region whose volcanic soils and warm days produce Merlot with uncommon concentration and structure. The 22-month oak program—split between American and French barrels—adds spice and complexity without burying the fruit. With the 2012 vintage now well over a decade old, this bottle has entered a drinking window where tannins have integrated and secondary flavors of tobacco, coffee, and earth have developed fully. For anyone exploring what Lake County Merlot can achieve at a reserve level, this is a compelling and well-priced benchmark.