NEW Release! Enjoy this lavishly textured, versatile, noble grape varietal!
94 Points - Owen Bargreen: The 2022 ‘Estate' Merlot was stored in 91% new French oak prior to bottling. It is a knockout wine showing beautiful depth and concentration. Milk chocolate dusted black cherry and red raspberry combine with garrigue notes on the palate, alongside sandy soils. Beautifully poised and balanced, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years. This is every bit as good as the 2021 edition. Drink 2024-2039
94 Points - International Wine Report: Crafted from old vines planted in 1977, this Merlot reflects the maturity and depth of its heritage. It pours a striking medium ruby with a vibrant purple edge, immediately captivating the eye. The nose bursts with aromas of red cherries and ripe blue plums intertwined with cedar and the distinct scent of damp forest earth and autumn leaves. On the palate, the wine is richly textured, offering a full-bodied experience with flavors of black plum, juicy blackberries, cinnamon sticks, and subtle forest floor nuances. The structure is impeccably balanced, with well-integrated tannins and lively acidity that keeps the wine fresh and dynamic.
93 Points - Wine Advocate: The 2022 Merlot Estate bursts from the glass with pure aromas of Luxardo cherries, milk chocolate, thyme, graphite and savory undertones. The full-bodied palate offers nuanced, mineral-driven flavors. It’s framed by silky tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity and has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. 265 cases were made.
92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
92 Points - Decanter: Stylistically regal Merlot from the pedigreed Woodward Canyon estate, first planted in Walla Walla in 1977. Dark black plums and spice aromas mingle with a note of dried sage and black peppercorn. The palate is amply structured with black raspberries, baking chocolate, and a melange of black and white pepper. Built to age, this wine is best drunk after five or so years as it begins to unwind.
91 Points - Vionous: The 2022 Merlot Estate is quite savory in the glass, mixing dried roses with ashen stones and hints of exotic spice. It splashes across the palate with silken textures and plump wild berry fruits, taking on a more serious feel as fine tannins collect toward the close. Long and staining yet only lightly tannic, the 2022 finishes long and fresh with a dried blueberry saturation.
100% Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard: Planted in 1977, Woodward Canyon is the westernmost vineyard in Walla Walla Valley AVA, roughly 15 miles west of Walla Walla, Washington. There are 35 vineyard acres planted and several more acres of green belts that support native species such as western juniper, ponderosa pine, western sagebrush, arrowleaf, balsamroot, and perennial wildflowers. Ritzville silt loam over fractured basalt, slope 15-18%, 750-850ft elevation. Managed by Woodward Canyon. All grapes are Salmon Safe certified as is the wine.
