- Appellation
- Yakima Valley
- Bottled
- July 2007
- Production
- 190 cases
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Price
- $17.00
Merlot 2006
This grape variety comes from the famous St. Emillon region of Bordeaux, France. This rich red wine was aged for eighteen months in small oak barrels to help mellow the wine and emphasize the soft tannins and berry flavors of 100% Yakima Valley Merlot. The Crawford Vineyard Merlot has flavors of Bing cherry, blackberry, mint, smoke, oak and chocolate, which allow it to be enjoyed with hearty meals. It also can be further aged to bring the wine to its fullest potential.
Merlot from the Crawford Vineyards has distinct expression of its terrior: big tannins, Bing cherry, and brambleberry fruit. This Merlot stands on its own.
To help highlight the terrior we speak of, our fermentation with the skins is limited, making for softer tannin structure, which helps to emphasize the fruit. Additionally, we age this wine only in older barrels—minimizing the oaky quality of the aging process, while gaining the dynamic maturing that only an oak barrel can give!
Lopez Island Vineyards Merlot—2005 Crawford Vineyards, Yakima Valley
“Outstanding! Vintners in the San Juan Islands continue to import fruit from this Yakima site and export remarkable wine. In this case, Brent Charnley captures much of what Merlot drinkers hope for. Aromas of cherries, chocolate brownies, sage and cedar lead to the same sensations on a lush entry of tasty berries, embraced by supple tannins in the farewell.”
—Wine Press Northwest, Summer 2008