Nose
The wine's nose consists of bright floral aromatics, elderberry, red and black crème fruits, and spicy yet subdued notes of balsam, pencil shavings, and pine.
Palate
The palate is broad and fat with a soft, long, yet lively finish that brings back merlot lovers to this wine again and again.
Growing Conditions
Perhaps the most prominent event of the 2004 vintage weather occurred while the vines were still deep in slumber. On January 4th, the temperature dropped below zero for the first time since ‘96,
causing yield-reducing bud damage in most of our Walla Walla Valley merlot blocks. Fortunately, the vineyards we purchase from in the Columbia Valley fared better. Add to that the fact that Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates was generous enough to allow us to “cherry-pick” some merlot from their Canoe Ridge Estate vineyard so that we were not down in total production. The growing season itself was quite wonderful – as an early bud-break led to an extended growing season.
Aging
Aged in new and second-fill French and American oak barrels for 14 months.