The most lush and fruit forward Merlot ever from Woodward Canyon, Rick made a particularly good wine, given the unparalleled heat in Washington in 2003. While much more forward than his usual style, he has managed to provide delectable, nuanced hints of perfume and spice, along with interesting dark notes from the barrel tannins. 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.
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.
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
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.
