Barrister Winery 2012 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $29
These two Spokane attorneys got their introduction to winemaking by using a kit during a vacation in British Columbia, but their real start came via their Gonzaga University connection to Myles Anderson of Walla Walla Vintners, who presented them with a bin of commercial fruit. Greg Lipsker and Michael White haven’t looked back, and their winemaking triumvirate with Tyler Walters continues to spend much of their efforts working with Walla Walla Valley sites. Here, it is Dwelley Vineyard, and the barrel program that includes 50% new French oak exudes aromas of tar, roasted coffee beans and tobacco with black plums, blackberry and bacon fat. Inside, it’s as dark as a movie theater with a hedonistic feel of blackberry, black cherry and chocolate-covered pomegranate, joined by more bacon, coffee and lime peel.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 302 cases
Alcohol: 14.8%
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