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Columbia Valley Merlot

Columbia Valley Merlot Wine Details
Price: $39.00 per bottle

Description: 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.

Varietal Definition
Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.


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