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Merlot, Columbia Valley

Merlot, Columbia Valley Wine Details
Price: $46.00 per bottle

Description: Ooh La La! Now here is a beauty of a wine that has truly captured the essence of the vineyard and terroir. One of our favorite growers, Dick Boushey, and winemaker, Marie-Eve Gilla, have worked really hard together to produce the best possible fruitand ultimately, an incredible wine. We used 6 barrels of the most exquisite fruit from Boushey vineyard to produce our very first vineyard designated Merlot. The nose is ripe with maracchino cherries, eucalyptus, vanilla, lavender and spice. In the mouth, experience rich, dense fruit of blackberries and chocolate covered cherries laced with cinnamon. This wine is incredibly balanced from start to finish. It covers your entire palate and begs you to take another sip. The finish is long and lush with no end in sight. For a complete experience, our 2004 Merlot, Boushey Vineyard calls for beef, so we suggest trying it with Beef Wellington or prime rib.

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.
Symphony:
The Symphony Grape was developed in California in the 1960's by Dr. Olmo at U.C. Davis. It is a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris. The fragrances and pleasant fruit flavors make it suitable for a white wine.


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