2022 Merlot
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Tasting Notes
Our 2022 Merlot is a medium to full-bodied wine that displays an abundance of dark fruit aromas. Layers of dark cherry juice, black cassis, blackberry, and roasted dates intertwine with complex notes of dark espresso and smoked caramel. On the palate, the wine shows finesse, balance, and roundness. Smooth, supple tannins frame the way for lingering flavors of plum jam, vanilla bean, bakers’ chocolate, and toasted oak.
Awards
2022 Vintage
91 Points, Wine Spectator
91 Points, Paul Gregutt
91 Points, International Wine Report
89 Points, Vinous
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2021 Vintage
90 Points, Paul Gregutt
90 Points & Best Buy, Wine Enthusiast
89 Points Vinous
Vineyard Designation
100% Estate Grown
Vintage Notes
The 2022 vintage in the Yakima Valley was a bit of a roller coaster. A mild winter extended into spring with early frost periods and winter-like conditions in April. The cool spring delayed bud break by a few weeks and caused delayed growth in the vineyard as we moved into summer. Each vineyard block was meticulously managed to ensure a ripe crop by the time of harvest. We reduced the number of clusters per vine and allowed for increased sunlight exposure. By mid-July, temperatures had finally started to warm up, leading to record growth in a short amount of time. Fortunately, warm summer temperatures persisted into fall, helping to extend the growing season and allowing the grapes to continue ripening. Harvest ended up being delayed approximately three weeks compared to a typical year. We were grateful not to experience any fall frost events, allowing the grapes to have extended hang time on the vines, which enabled them to achieve optimal ripeness and excellent flavor development. Overall, the 2022 vintage displays ripe flavors, bountiful fruit aromas, and balanced acidity. The wines can be enjoyed in their youth or cellared for many years to come.
Winemaking Notes
Sourced from our estate vineyard, the grapes for this wine were carefully selected from our best-performing Merlot blocks, with the goal of crafting a world-class Merlot that showcases abundant fruit aromas, lush tannins, and seamless integration of French oak. Harvest took place in early October at optimal maturity. The grapes were destemmed and sorted using an optical sorter before being transferred to various-sized fermenters. A 48-hour cold soak was employed to extract color without the influence of fermentation. The grapes were then warmed and inoculated with several yeast strains. Our extraction approach was aggressive initially to achieve the desired flavor, aroma, and color before alcohol levels began to rise. Once the alcohol content reached approximately 9-10%, we adopted a gentler method to avoid over-extracting the wine and to preserve its lush, round mouthfeel. The wine underwent fermentation on the skins for 13 days before being drained and gently pressed. It was then transferred to a variety of French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. Following this process, the wine’s lees were stirred twice a month over three months to naturally soften it while enhancing its structure and mouthfeel. The wine was aged for 19 months in 100% French oak barrels, consisting of 31% new, 44% two to three-year-old, and 25% neutral barrels.
* Produced in a Vegan Manner (No animal byproducts used in the production of this wine)
Food Pairing
• Braised Beef Ragu with Pappardelle Pasta
• Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Blueberry Sauce
• Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Blue Cheese Butter
• Gouda or Gorgonzola
- Varietal Composition: 100% Merlot
- Appellation: Yakima Valley
- Aging / Barrel Program: 100% French oak for 16 months with 42% being new French oak, 28% 2–3-year-old French oak, and 30% neutral French oak.
- Cases Produced: 2,700
- Alcohol: 14.3%
- pH: 3.82
- Acidity: 5.6 g/L
- Ageability: Peak maturity in 2030, with aging potential through 2035.