The Miller family planted this block of Merlot back in 1996, and Prosser, Wash., winemaker Marcus Miller takes advantage of a marvelous vintage for yet another approachable release from this lower-priced tier. Aromas open with hints of blueberry/pomegranate juice and boysenberry along with complex notes of maple, root beer, black olive and celery leaf. Those dark purple fruit tones spill out across the palate with boldness, backed by slaty tannins and a finish of espresso grounds and mocha. Sadly, the family lost its patriarch — grower Michael Miller — to cancer this fall.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 2,200 cases
Alcohol: 13.9%
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