Victor Palencia, the young, forward-looking owner for Vino La Monarcha wines, put his 2012 Merlot into a spiffy bag that will keep it fresh for 30 days after opening (and two years before). Using grapes from the Columbia Valley, he created a wine that offers blackberry and blueberry aromas, plus a dash of oak spice. On the palate, it offers lush summer blackberry, blueberry and hints of plum skin and black currant. It closes with juicy tannins and ample acidity. Consumers will have the last word on whether they’ll accept the concept of a 750-milliliter bag, but they should realize it contains a top-quality Merlot at a reasonable $20. This earned a gold medal at the 2016 Cascadia Wine Competition.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 500 cases
Alcohol: 14.2%
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