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Clearwater Canyon Cellars 2014 Merlot, Lewis-Clark Valley, $25

By on November 13, 2016

clearwater-canyon-cellars-merlot-2014-bottleUntil May 20, 2016, the Umikers would have been required to use “Idaho/Washington” as the American Viticultural Area on the label. Now they are able to embrace the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA for this Merlot, a mix of their own vineyard in the Lewiston Orchards and the young Rock n’J Vineyard — the easternmost planting in Washington state near the Asotin. The Umikers’ devotion to American oak show here, a program of 17 months in 30% new barrel. That creates a theme of vanilla bean, dark toast, caramel and spice box along with sweet cherries and red pepper flakes. Fine-grained tannins allow for a mouth-filling finish of black cherry, bittersweet chocolate and toast.

Rating: Excellent

Production: 208 cases

Alcohol: 14.9%

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About Great Northwest Wine

Articles credited to Great Northwest Wine are authored by Eric Degerman and other contributors. In most cases, these are wine reviews that are judged blind by the Great Northwest Wine tasting panel.

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