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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2009 and 2013 (based on 4 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 87.7 pts. and median of 87 pts. in 36 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by qwerty2 on 2/19/2013 & rated 89 points: Very nice. Beautiful bouquet, and very drinkable. (3772 views) | | | Tasted by austinbeeman- austinbeeman.com on 2/6/2013 & rated 90 points: Red plus nose. Blueberry velvet cream. Good complexity all throughout the finish.
$19.99 OH Discout
www.austinbeeman.com (3714 views) | | | Tasted by Barry Notes on 1/14/2013 & rated 88 points: PnP w/45 min decant time. Slight sediment cloud, dark purple/red color. Nice nose. Very decent. Med/fuller body, pencil, tart, good balance, proper fruit flavors and profile. Fairly clean, med finish. Good example of how Merlot should taste. Nothing off. Good value wine. (4103 views) | | | Tasted by familydoc on 10/16/2012 & rated 91 points: Nose: big fruit, graphite Taste: nice acidity, ripe cherries, herbs, high deliciousness factor, needs decanting and has a fair amount of sediment. (3859 views) | | | Tasted by golfwine on 4/30/2012 & rated 88 points: At least a slight bit perplexing. It's been open (& decanted) for just over 2 hours now. The aromatics are pleasing with licorice-tinged cocoa powder. The notably rich mouthfeel is distracting me from being able to pinpoint the flavors - hinting of slightly tart black and blue berry fruit. Again, the richness is notable and continues right into the smoothly integrated finish. All that praise yet, there's something ever-so slightly disjointed about the total package?..
Another 30mins in and I'm getting a nice, savory finish and aromatics that are more assertive; with evolving flavors that emphasize the briary, black fruits. This wine has time and again, piques my interest in further exploring Washington.
(suggestion: How about a big Washington tasting in San Fran?!) (4351 views) | | | Tasted by cpeddy on 1/29/2012: Drank very well right out of the bottle. A bit fruity but overall a pleasant taste. Great medium-bodied value. I'll add more of these based on how the last 2007 bottle goes down. (1643 views) | | | Tasted by TexasBob on 11/20/2011 & rated 88 points: Deep rich red-violet. Mixture of red and black fruits on the nose. Silky mouth-feel. Notes of rich raspberry, mocha java, blueberry, with lovely strong tannins. Much better than I expected - an excellent everyday wine for the price. Reminds me of the Havens Merlot Reserve 2006. (1682 views) | | | Tasted by brandievo on 10/18/2011 & rated 87 points: Strong olive taste (1644 views) | | | Tasted by Rgrusin on 9/11/2011 & rated 87 points: Surprisingly pleasing nose right out of the cellar with fruit, vanilla and oak. On the palate this is a bit of a fruit bomb with grape, blueberry and cassis. The short, somewhat bitter finish is this wines primary weakness. Still, a decent drinker for the price. (1716 views) | | | Tasted by devman on 3/3/2011 & rated 88 points: I wasn't expecting much from this wine, but was pleasantly surprised. The nose has some barn yard scents, with a bit of oak and a tiny amount of fruit. The flavor is pretty good overall, with a decent amount of fruit and balanced tannin and acid. Could last for another 5-8 years in the cellar just fine. (1829 views) | | | Tasted by BBinSC on 2/22/2011 & rated 89 points: Popped and poured, then consumed over the course of several hours. Nice nose of vanilla and red fruit; palate is very pleasant, fruit-driven with chewy tannins and a decent finish. This wine is a good example of both Washington Merlot and how much the prices have risen for wines of this quality in the last few years. This used to be a blow-away value, now it has almost surpassed a QPR threshold. Good, not great, wine that's fun to try, but not to add to a cellar. (1974 views) | | | Tasted by CabIsKing on 12/1/2010 & rated 88 points: Nose of dark fruits and violets that lead to hints of vanilla. In the mouth it is very pleasant with a short finish. Not bad but probably would not buy again. (2210 views) | | | Tasted by eeeeeradicator on 4/7/2010 & rated 83 points: Fruit-driven but flawed. There's just a tiny trace of burnt rubber on the nose that really detracts from an otherwise reasonable wine. (2241 views) | | | Tasted by MrSnooty on 12/5/2009 & rated 89 points: Decent WA merlot, ripe and fruity with flavours of blueberries and cassis. Round with soft mellow tannins. A fair bit of vanilla from the oak - a bit too sweet as a result. A touch of acidity, and a short to medium length finish. Nothing too complex, perfect for a relaxed meal. (2383 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Gordon Estate Producer websiteMerlotMerlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Columbia Valley Columbia Valley Winery Association |
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