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SKU 945071
$31.74/bottle
Out of stock
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A savory mix of crushed cherries, blackberries, sage and sweet lavender keeps me coming back to the 2020 Merlot again and again. This is round and soothing with velvety textures lifted by brisk acids, as tart red fruit and savory inner spice add tension toward the close. It leaves a staining of primary concentration, as echoes of blueberry and wild herbal tones slowly fade over a coating of gently grippy tannins.
With its dark blue colored fruits and high juice content, Merlot varietal grapes have long been a favorite of wine producers around the globe, with it being found in vineyards across Europe, the Americas and elsewhere in the New World. One of the distinguishing features of Merlot grapes is the fact that they have a relatively low tannin content and an exceptionally soft and fleshy character, meaning they are capable of producing incredibly rounded and mellow wines. This mellowness is balanced with plenty of flavor, however, and has made Merlot grapes the varietal of choice for softening other, more astringent and tannin-heavy wines, often resulting in truly exceptional produce. Merlot is regarded as one of the key 'Bordeaux' varietals for precisely this reason; when combined with the drier Cabernet Sauvignon, it is capable of blending beautifully to produce some of the finest wines available in the world.
Country
United States
Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.
Region
Washington State
Since it began in the 1820s, wine-production in Washington state has gone from strength to strength, with many of the finest United States wines coming out over the past twenty years hailing from this region. Today, the state is the second largest US producer of wines, behind California, with over forty thousand acres under vine. The state itself is split into two distinct wine regions, separated by the Cascade Range, which casts an important rain shadow over much of the area. As such, the vast majority of vines are grown and cultivated in the dry, arid desert-like area in the eastern half of the state, with the western half producing less than one percent of the state's wines where it is considerably wetter. Washington state is famed for producing many of the most accessible wines of the country, with Merlot and Chardonnay varietal grapes leading the way, and much experimentation with other varietals characterizing the state's produce in the twenty-first century.
Appellation
Columbia Valley
Columbia Valley, a prominent wine appellation in Washington State, USA, stands out for its diverse and expansive viticultural landscape. What makes Columbia Valley unique is its remarkable versatility, producing a wide array of grape varieties due to its diverse microclimates and soils. This appellation, bordered by the Cascade Mountains, benefits from a continental climate, allowing for extended sunlight hours during the growing season.
Columbia Valley is particularly celebrated for its outstanding Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah wines. The region's commitment to sustainable and organic viticulture contributes to the overall uniqueness, emphasizing environmental stewardship. The collaborative spirit among winemakers fosters innovation and quality across a range of wine styles. From crisp Rieslings to robust red blends, Columbia Valley wines express the richness of the Pacific Northwest's terroir, inviting wine enthusiasts to explore the dynamic and evolving landscape of American winemaking.
VM94pts
Vinous Media
A savory mix of crushed cherries, blackberries, sage and sweet lavender keeps me coming back to the 2020 Merlot again and again. This is round and soothing with velvety textures lifted by brisk acids, as tart red fruit and savory inner spice add tension toward the close. It leaves a staining of primary concentration, as echoes of blueberry and wild herbal tones slowly fade over a coating of gently grippy tannins.
JD94pts
Jeb Dunnuck
Blackcurrants, darker cherries, leafy herbs, and chocolate notes all emerge from the 2020 Merlot, a round, supple, seamless Merlot with a great mid-palate as well as sweet tannins. It's a beautiful effort to drink over the coming decade. The blend is 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 22 months in 34% new French oak.
JS92pts
James Suckling
This has a fragrant nose of sage, dark cherries, cloves, salted plums and licorice. It’s full-bodied with fleshy tannins that melt into a deep core of dark and spicy fruit. Lovely texture and integration. Drink or hold.
DC92pts
Decanter
Dense aromatics of black currant, smoked cedar plank and touches of tobacco and tea leaf. The palate is supple, with dark blue fruit flavours, plenty of savoury herbs and crushed black slate. There is ample tannin and structure to this wine, which will improve over the next 6-8 years.
WA91pts
Wine Advocate
Made with 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Columbia Valley Merlot displays a dark ruby core and offers a sturdy nose of baked earth and clay with notes of roasted plum. Hints of oak spices sway out of the glass with aromas of nutmeg and cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the Merlot is balanced, fresh and firm, offering a tannic edge that lingers through the finish. For the price, this is hard to beat. Just under 10,000 bottles were produced after the wine rested for 22 months in 34% new French oak. Nicely done!
WS90pts
Wine Spectator
Elegantly structured with sleek cherry and currant flavors that are accented by tobacco and spice flavors and finish with refined tannins. Drink now through 2028. 820 cases made.
