2016 Merlot, Bacchus Vineyard MAGNUM

From Winemaker, John Abbott:

The varietal Merlot takes us back to the very beginning of our career in Washington State, when, in 1993, we moved to Walla Walla to start Canoe Ridge Vineyard. In our humble opinion, Merlot remains one of the most underappreciated and most versatile varietals in the State. The seamless combination of fruit, balance, and structure that can be achieved in a cool vintage, but also a warm one, makes working with it a pleasure.

Working with some of the best fruit in the state, grown by one of the most responsive and innovative growers, makes our work even easier. We have brought in fruit from Bacchus Vineyard since 1997 and from this particular block since 2004. A long working relationship like this with growers is invaluable. They know exactly what we like.

Once picked, the fruit was carefully sorted to remove any green stem material that would result in green and edgy tannins. It was then fermented and delicately pressed. Aging was in 100 percent tight-grained Bordeaux barrels for 21 months.

This Merlot is elegant, balanced, and complex, with dark blue fruits – blueberry, mulberry, and fresh huckleberry (the blue type, not the translucent salmon colored ones, which, by the way, are a special treat if you have never had them). The mouth has weight without being out of balance. A hint of toastiness makes me think of a blueberry scone. It is complex and seamless, with tannins that are refined in a long finish.

Pour a glass and turn up a little Justin Timberlake – yep! Justin’s album Man of the Woods is worth a listen or two, and in particular Say Something, featuring Chris Stapleton, is great.