One of the Pacific Northwest’s first destination wineries continues to prove the bottlings from this bucolic property in Walla Walla are worth seeking out as the husband/wife winemaking team of Daniel Wampfler and Amy Alvarez-Wampfler produced our tasting’s most delicious example of Merlot. While there’s significant influence from Abeja’s estate vineyards (26%), the major … [Read more...] about Abeja 2019 Merlot, Columbia Valley $50.00
merlot
Palouse Winery 2018 Dineen Vineyard Mirage Merlot, Rattlesnake Hills $42.00
Vashon Island winemaker George Kirkish pulls from several vineyards in the Rattlesnake Hills above the Yakima Valley, but he focuses on Dineen Vineyard — meticulously farmed by Patrick Rawn — for his Mirage project. There’s a sense of dusty lavender to the dark blueberry and black cherry notes, backed by pleasing touches of nutmeg and toast. The jammy midpalate picks up a tasty … [Read more...] about Palouse Winery 2018 Dineen Vineyard Mirage Merlot, Rattlesnake Hills $42.00
Cloudlift Cellars 2017 Panorama Merlot, Columbia Valley $30.00
Furniture craftsman Tom Stangeland takes a Right Bank approach with this vintage of his Panorama, which focuses on Merlot (78%) from Arianses Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope and highly decorated Elephant Mountain Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills of the Yakima Valley, which also contributes the Cabernet Sauvignon (11%) and Petit Verdot (2%). The addition of Cabernet Franc (9%) … [Read more...] about Cloudlift Cellars 2017 Panorama Merlot, Columbia Valley $30.00
Washington Hills Winery 2018 Merlot, Columbia Valley $9.99
Best Buy! The first time our panel staged a comparative tasting for a magazine was in 1998. The focus was Merlot, and one of the best was the Washington Hills 1995 Merlot. Twenty-two years later, this Precept brand ranks among the most delicious Merlots, and the price has remained $10. Its fruit-forward nose of blueberry and plum includes a whiff of a coastal breeze. There is … [Read more...] about Washington Hills Winery 2018 Merlot, Columbia Valley $9.99
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. … [Read more...] about Fortuity Cellars 2019 Merlot, Yakima Valley $32.00