Palouse winemaker Patrick Merry helped create a culture for Pacific Northwest wine in Pullman, Wash., and he uses fruit from acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard in Oregon to burnish his reputation with Bordeaux varieties. A product of a warm vintage, the fruit came in from the field at 26 Brix on Oct 2, and Merry devoted 17 months to a barrel program with American and Hungarian oak. There’s an early greeting of dried and crushed herbs with green peppercorns in the nose, joined by cassis and cherries, cinnamon toast and licorice. It’s more fruit-forward on the palate, opening with elegant Bing cherry and cranberry flavors. Presented in a lighter style, dusty tannins lead to a long and juicy finish of celery leaf, Van cherry and shaved dark chocolate.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 185 cases
Alcohol: 14.3%
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