The 2018 Brothers Blend is an apt entree into the Ellman line-up of wines. Approachable, and then some, it offers a deep, opaque violet cast, billowing with intense aromas of creme de cassis, blackberries, espresso and cigar box. On the palate, complexity abounds with lush red and black fruits, from cranberry and raspberry to black cherries and plums, giving way to notes of cacao, as well as hints of herbal and floral notes such as rosemary and violet. Incredibly soft and polished, it packs excellent density without a rough edge in sight. With mouth-coating tannins giving way to a fresh finish, it pairs instantly with your favorites on the grill from a nice boerewors or Presa Iberico, to the garden’s bounty, like summer squash and zucchini.