We craft this wine to be our complex yet approachable Merlot. The wine offers aromas of black cherry, leather and spice with layers of rich dark red fruit flavors. A touch of Syrah adds a jammy fruit character. I think of this wine as a great everyday red. -Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker
91% Merlot, 7% Syrah, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
A "perfect" ripening season with full crop yields, and restrained sugar levels led to outstanding wines from Washington state's Columbia Valley in 2008. Delayed slightly by cool spring weather and a moderate summer, harvest began 10 days later than normal. Warm weather in August provided ideal ripening conditions for grapes across all varietals and harvest was quickly ramped up in order to obtain fruit at the optimum ripeness.