2019 Walla Walla Vintners Merlot Walla Walla Valley

WE92 The aromas offer immediate appeal, with notes of milk chocolate, dried herb, raspberry, tea leaf and pencil lead. The flavors are sumptuous, with the tannins giving a light grip. Chocolate notes linger on the finish. It’s a classic Walla Walla Vintners-style Merlot, with the brightness and clarity of the vintage along with undeniable appeal. Decant if drinking in the near term.

Estate Notes: Blackberry, black cherry, and cassis aromas with notes of cocoa powder and coffee. More black fruit on the palate, supported by balanced tannins and a velvety mouthfeel stretching through the lengthy finish. Aged 18 months in 40% new French and 10% new American oak.
86% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 770 cases produced.

This small winery produces expressive, affordable and always high quality wines. This is a beautifully balanced Merlot.

The estate vineyard sits at 1467 ft. along the Mill Creek Valley in the shadow of the picturesque Blue Mountains. It’s a relatively high elevation, home to cooler temperatures brought by gentle breezes. Coupled with its southwest exposure ensuring abundant sunshine, Cut Bank benefits from the slow, even ripening that promotes steady sugar accumulation and retains natural acidity.

Temperature swings can be as much as 40 degrees at sunset, locking in flavor each evening

The vineyard’s Walla Walla Silt Loam soil receives 22″ of rain fall annually, mostly during winter months. This precipitation allows them to dry farm the estate, focusing on commitment to sustainability in all winemaking practices.