- Tinte Cellars donation drive for Ukraine enters final week
- Jackson Family Wines invests in Walla Walla vines, wines
- 2022 Idaho Winery of the Year: Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery
- 2022 Idaho Winery to Watch: Rivaura Vineyards and Winery
- 2022 Washington Winery of the Year: Westport Winery Garden Resort
- 2022 Washington Winery to Watch: Liberty Lake Wine Cellars
- 2022 Oregon Winery of the Year: Chris James Cellars
- Long path of Andrew Riechers leads to early acclaim for Audeant Wines
- The Wine Knows: Upchurch hits sweet spot with Cab on Red Mountain
- Northwest Merlot remains memorable in talented hands
Fortuity Cellars 2019 Merlot, Yakima Valley $32.00
Lee and Emily Fergestrom built their winery in the Yakima Valley, and they only source grapes from the Yakima Valley. The Rawn family’s Copeland Vineyard is less than 9 miles to the west as the crow flies, and young winemaker Alexis Sells helped produce one of the tasting’s most fruit-forward Merlots. Dark red fruit aromas are led by black cherry, currant jelly and nutmeg. There’s richness, depth and concentration on the palate, making for a remarkably heavy and plummy mouth feel that’s backed by bittersweet chocolaty tannins. While this bottling isn’t scheduled to be released until summer, it’s already outstanding. And it’s a remarkable follow up to Fortuity’s 2018 Merlot, which topped Sip Magazine’s Best of the Northwest 2021 judging.
Rating: Gold medal – 91 points
Production: 92 cases
Alcohol: 13.5%
0 comments