2004 Reserve Merlot (All Wines / Reserve) -- Columbia Crest Winery Shopping Cart -- Merlot Reserve 2004

<H1>2004 Reserve Merlot -- Columbia Crest Winery Shopping Cart</H1> $22.00 -- 2007 Winter Club Selection "...aromatics of spice, blackberry, and chocolate" Tasting Notes “This classic Washington state Merlot offers aromatics of spice, blackberry, and chocolate which lead into a balanced palate of velvety-textured fruit and tannins. The long, seductive finish lingers.” ~Ray Einberger, Winemakers Growing Season <ul> <li>A hot, dry growing season created ideal flavor maturity and promoted an early harvest start.</li> <li>Cool temperatures and intermittent rain in mid-September prompted extended hang time, which allowed the grapes to reach ideal physiologic maturing.</li> <li>The 2004 harvest is characterized by smaller berry and cluster size, with intense flavors, good sugar development and high natural acidity.</li> </ul>   Vineyards <ul> <li>Fruit was handpicked from the top 10% of the vintage’s best vineyards for Columbia Crest’s Reserve Merlot.</li> <li>Vineyard sites are located on the Wahluke Slope, offering aromatics, texture and complexity; in the Cold Creek area, adding to flavor and fruitiness; and on the Horse Heaven Hills, contributing balance and body to the finished wine.</li> <li>The balance between the growing season’s warm daytime temperatures and cooler nights, particularly during the ripening period, concentrated aromatics and enhanced complexity.</li> <li>Low rainfall stressed the vines, and irrigation was applied judiciously to create concentrated varietal expression.</li> </ul>   Vinification <ul> <li>Grapes were crushed with 30% whole berries remaining.</li> <li>Cold soaking on the skins for two days extracted soft tannins and intense color.</li> <li>Fermentation, including twice-daily pump overs, lasted to 10 days, depending on the lot.</li> <li>Malolactic fermentation occurred in primarily new French (72%) and one-year-old American (19%) oak barrels.</li> <li>The wine aged in barrels for 27 months.</li> </ul>   Vineyard Beverly Vineyard Blend........90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol......14.2% Acidity.......0.54g/100mL pH............3.68 <LI>SKU: 17544 Other products in the category <A HREF="http://store.columbiacrest.com/Category10" TITLE="All Wines">All Wines</A> / <A HREF="http://store.columbiacrest.com/Category1" TITLE="Reserve">Reserve</A>: <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product81 TITLE="2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon">2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon</A> -- 95 points, Wine Spectator Fall 2008 Club Selection "...intense fruit aromas mingled with chocolate cherry and slight mint aromatics." <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product84 TITLE="2005 Reserve Merlot">2005 Reserve Merlot</A> -- 2008 Winter Club Selection "...hints of spice and slight pepper aromas which lead to a soft, velvety palate of chocolate and blackberry flavors..." <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product80 TITLE="2005 Walter Clore Private Reserve">2005 Walter Clore Private Reserve</A> -- 92 points, Wine Spectator</em,> "...seductive finish" <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product74 TITLE="2006 Reserve Chardonnay">2006 Reserve Chardonnay</A> -- Summer 2008 Club Selection "a hint of butter and creaminess" <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product97 TITLE="2006 Reserve Syrah ">2006 Reserve Syrah </A> -- Spring 09 Club Selection Mouth-filling flavors of dark chocolate with hints of roasted coffee bean round out the notes of fruit and oak... <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product102 TITLE="2007 Reserve Chardonnay">2007 Reserve Chardonnay</A> -- Summer 2009 Club Selection Ripe fruit flavors are enhanced by a hint of butter and creaminess on the palate followed by a perfectly balanced, long, lingering finish." <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product85 TITLE="2007 Reserve Late Harvest Viognier">2007 Reserve Late Harvest Viognier</A> -- 2008 Fall Club Selection "...decadent, silky wine" <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product32 TITLE="2005 Semillon Reserve Ice Wine 375 mL">2005 Semillon Reserve Ice Wine 375 mL</A> -- "Sweet earth, pineapple and honey aromas..." Past Club Selection Spring 2007 <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product64 TITLE="2005 Reserve Zinfandel">2005 Reserve Zinfandel</A> -- "...aromatics of spice, blackberry, and chocolate" Past Club Selection <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product98 TITLE="2006 Reserve Zinfandel Stone Tree Vineyard ">2006 Reserve Zinfandel Stone Tree Vineyard </A> -- Spring 09 Club Selection "...an intense palate of jammy, bright fruit and strawberry flavors, and finishes with lingering fruit and dark chocolate" Past Club Selection <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product101 TITLE="2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Wautoma Springs Vineyard ">2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Wautoma Springs Vineyard </A> -- Summer 2009 Club Selection "..fruity chocolate cherry aromas that lead into a balanced soft delicate palate of cocoa and fresh fruit flavors. Displaying sophistication and finesse the wine finishes with elegance and unique expressiveness.” <LI><A HREF=http://store.columbiacrest.com/Product50 TITLE="2005 Reserve Cabernet Franc">2005 Reserve Cabernet Franc</A> -- 2007 Winter Club Selection "palate of cocoa and black cherry flavors..." <A HREF="http://store.columbiacrest.com" TITLE="Columbia Crest Winery Products">Columbia Crest Winery Products</A> <A HREF="http://www.columbia-crest.com">Columbia Crest Winery</A> Columbia Crest Winery <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com" TITLE="shopping cart">shopping cart</A> powered by Nexternal