Strikes an elegant balance between lovely cherry/plum fruit and vanilla/cigar box, wood spice notes. Effusive plum, cherry and cranberry fruit leaps out of the glass and cascades through the palate, enlivened by juicy acidity. A discreet wood profile plays second fiddle to the amazing fruit found in this youthful merlot. Bottle age will certainly make this wine even better, but do you possess the necessary self restraint? Better buy some to lay down and some to drink now! Pumpovers 2-3 times daily; pressed at 2-6% sugar; peak fermentation temperature 85 degrees; aged 23 months in old and new European oak barrels. Vineyards: Lonesome Spring Ranch (Yakima Valley), Caroway Vineyards (Columbia Valley), Wahluke Slope Vineyards (Wahluke Slope), Kiona Vineyard (Red Mountain)