Seven Hills Winery 2016 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $25

Casey McClellan, who in 1982 helped his father establish the first Merlot vines in the Walla Walla Valley, sources from Seven Hills, Les Collines and McClellan Estate vineyards for one of the Northwest’s signature expressions of Merlot. Dark cherry, dusty blueberry, sweet herbs, clove and cola aromas lead to flavors that match. Fine-grained chocolaty tannins, pomegranate and lingering blackberry with vanilla keep the focus on age-worthy juiciness rather than those tannins.

Rating: Excellent

Production: 4,100 cases

Alcohol: 14.4%

Winery’s website