Woodward Canyon Merlot 2006
Woodward Canyon Merlot 06 is a prime example of Merlot, packed with intense red fruits, baking spices, and notes of smoke. An incredible wine.
There's nothing simple or one-dimensional about this wine. Rick is a winemaker who uses Bordeaux as a model, and this wine has many characteristics in common with the also hot as heck 2003 Bordeaux vintage. A side by side comparison of Merlots from the two parts of the world would make a most informative tasting.
""There is a little Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Syrah (4%) in the blend also. This is a silky, yet muscular – let's say it, masculine - style of Merlot. Meaning that the fruit is concentrated with deep blue and black berry and cassis flavors, augmented with lead pencil. Beautiful polish and concentration characterize this wine, yet it's quite approachable." - Paul Gregutt, paulgregutt.com
This 2006 Columbia Valley Merlot is produced from grapes grown at several of the finest vineyards in Washington State. These include Weinbau Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope of central Washington (50%), Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley (31%), Sagemoor Vineyard overlooking the Columbia River in eastern Washington (15%) and DuBrul Vineyard in the Yakima Valley (4%). Fruit ripened beautifully in 2006 producing a more slightly approachable wine with great concentration, structure and expression.
The 2006 vintage was warm with fruit ripening fully by the first week in October. The wine shows extraordinary complexity yet is softer and more elegant than our 2005 Merlot. The blending of fruit from such fantastic vineyards has produced a complex flavor profile of generous cherry, oak, spice and coffee; I pick up notes of toasted coconut and vanilla in the aroma. Rich fruit and fully mature tannins give this wine the proportion and structure to age well for six years or more.
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2003 Vintage Tasting Notes:
From the winery:
The 2003 vintage was the warmest vintage on record for Washington State. The wine shows extraordinary complexity, definition and focus. The ability to blend with such fantastic vineyards has produced a red wine where the purity of Washington merlot simply explodes in the mouth! Firm mature tannins give this wine it's backbone; it will require some patience. I absolutely love the proportion of this wine and though it may be consumed now it will show even better with a year or so of bottle age.
MORE INFORMATION
From the winery:
This 2003 Columbia Valley Merlot is produced from grapes grown at some of the finest vineyards in Washington State. These include Woodward Canyon Estate and Pepper Bridge in the Walla Walla Valley, Klipsun on Red Mountain and Sagemoor and Champoux in the Columbia Valley. Merlot ripened beautifully in 2003 producing a wine of great concentration and expression.
This Merlot was pumped over and punched down by hand two to three times per day in small stainless steel tanks. After pressing settling and racking the various lots were moved to mostly new French barrels for aging and maturation. Following final racking the wine was assembled and bottled in April of 2005, then laid down in our cellars for additional development.
The 2003 vintage was the warmest vintage on record for Washington State. The wine shows extraordinary complexity, definition, and focus. The ability to blend with such fantastic vineyards has produced a red wine where the purity of Washington merlot simply explodes in the mouth! Firm, mature tannins give this wine its backbone; it will require some patience. I absolutely love the proportion of this wine and, though it may be consumed now, it will show even better with a year or so of bottle age.
