While the 2021 Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year is nationally known for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, Ed King’s team — led by Brent Stone — also does award-winning bottlings of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and this Merlot. Here is the only expression from...
The 2021 Washington Winery of the Year opened 2022 by producing one of the top Merlots in this tasting. Rob and Donna Mellison doted on these eight barrels of juice courtesy of Napa-trained viticulturist Ed Kelly. The hedonistic presentation of dark red fruit comes...
Tim and Kelly Hightower have gone Platinum with Merlot in 2020 and 2021, and they’ve qualified for this fall’s 2022 judging with this bottling from the 2018 vintage. While their estate Out of Line Vineyard serves as the foundation, there’s also a significant...
Leigh McMillan is in her second decade as a Washington winemaker, and she’s recently invested more deeply in her relationship with Yakima Valley vineyards managed by Patrick Rawn. Black cherry cola, vanilla bean and a light amount of toast lead the descriptors of...
The Bacchus planting at historic Sagemoor Vineyard contributed to a number of the top wines in our exploration of Northwest Merlot, and the Spokane triumvirate of owner/winemakers Greg Lipsker, Michael White and Tyler Walters again showed how the gentle vibrations...
Two of the Walla Walla Valley’s most respected winemakers — Roger Cockerline of Bunchgrass fame and Walla Walla Vintners co-founder Gordy Venneri — work in tandem on this ultra-boutique label for the Neher family. Labeled as a tribute to the late Richard Neher, a...
The Abeja winemaking tandem of Amy Alvarez-Wampfler, and her husband, Daniel Wampfler produced the top entry in Great Northwest Wine's 2022 comparative tasting of Merlot. (Richard Duval Images) It’s rare for a wine writer to receive gratitude for conducting a...
Brad Sherman of Michael Florentino Cellars in Woodinville launched this label to showcase the Bordeaux-inspired wines he crafts with Jared Welchel, and they selected their top barrels of Merlot from Destiny Ridge Vineyard to earn gold medals for bottlings from the...
Ste. Michelle first planted this site in the Horse Heaven Hills in 1991, and for the first 35 years of its life, all of the 559 acres were managed by Mimi Nye. The label reflects the winds that swirl up from the Columbia Gorge, which provide natural pest control...
Keith Kenison, who has enjoyed a 30-year career with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, produces these wines below the northern slopes of the Horse Heaven Hills, and it's a 100 percent expression of Merlot from the Horse Heaven Hills above. Remarkable layers of Bing...
