Maghee Cellars 2008 Merlot, Rattlesnake Hills, $36
The Woodhouse Wine Estates in Woodinville serves as home to a handful of brands — including Kennedy Shah — and winemaker Jean Claude Beck turned this Merlot into a gold medal at the 2014 Seattle Wine & Food Experience Wine Competition. Lovely aromas of spice, cherry, plum, rose hips and chocolate include a hint of tobacco leaf, likely a sign of the Cabernet Franc (5%). It’s a blockbuster on the palate with huge fruit flavors of plum and red cherry backed by milk chocolate. The structure features richness and smooth tannins, backed by some mint.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 178 cases
Alcohol: 14.6%
Bill says
Lots of love for Merlot. Several of your recently are new to me. I am looking forward to trying them. Several of my favs, in addition to Kyra’s Estate Merlot, wonder if you had the opportunity to try them…are: Dunham Cellars, Januik, Kontos, LongShadow’s “Pedestal”, Pepperbridge, Reininger, Seven Hills, Sineann, and of course, Leonetti Cellar, L’Ecole!?!
Andy Perdue says
Hi, Bill. We do taste a lot of these wines. However, this group included Merlots we’ve tasted in the past few weeks.
Jeff C says
To Whom It May Concern:
I really enjoy your website and this story and review in particular as I enjoy well made Washington Merlot. I’m blown away by the quality and value of the Columbia Winery 2012 Merlot. This is a juicy, plummy wine that gets better after being open for at least three days. I hope other wineries take note as this a great example of Merlot, especially at this price point. I can’t wait to see the evolution of Sean Hails (Columbia Winery Winemaker)wines over these next few years. A very promising future for this winery indeed!
Best,
Jeff Curry
Gig Harbor, WA
Andy Perdue says
Thanks, Jeff. We appreciate the great feedback.
We’ve now tasted the Columbia wines three or four times, mostly under blind tasting conditions, and they are delicious. Add in the price point, and I think Gallo has a winner here.