Richard Batchelor’s winemaking has lifted Maryhill atop the all-time Platinum leaderboard, but of the record 111 Platinums won, this is only his third for Merlot. Historically, the sources for Merlot under their entry-level “Classic” tier have included three go-to sites for many Washington wineries — Elephant Mountain in the Rattlesnake Hills, McKinley Springs in the Horse Heaven Hills and Tudor Hills in the Yakima Valley. The floral nose features rose petals, violets and dried Italian herbs alongside black fruit and French roast coffee. Silky tannins, black cherry, black currant and cocoa include dense savory notes of a veal demi-glace and peppercorn sauce. Qualifying award: Seattle Wine Award (gold)
Rating: Platinum • 92 points
Production: 1,800 cases
Alcohol: 14.2%
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