Each year, Precept CEO Andrew Browne bottles his own brand’s Merlot as an homage to his mother, and Walla Walla-based winemaker John Freeman continues to use Red Mountain fruit – Klipsun and now Taylor Mag – to build the structure of this classically bold 100% Washington Merlot that already received two years of bottle age prior to release. Credit the combination of 22-month barrel program of 44 percent new French oak with Canoe Ridge Vineyard and Weinbau fruit for the pleasing notes of sugared plums, Bing cherry, bittersweet chocolate and dried blueberry. Its flourish of penetrating tannins, pomegranate juice and pinch of clove bode well for richly flavored meats such as beef ribs or venison.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 1,343 cases
Alcohol: 14.2%
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