2021Merlot
2021Merlot
The 2021 Tenor Merlot is comprised of two small vineyard parcels within the greater Columbia Valley: Wallula Gap Vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills and Dionysus in the White Bluffs AVA.
During the 2021 vintage, our winemaking team worked with each vineyard manager to proactively restrict yields, which created extremely concentrated berries. Cool, fall nights preserved a sense of freshness in the wine, while flavor continued to develop. The harvest of both vineyards took place in the cool early mornings of mid-October.
Once arriving in winery, the fruit was cluster-sorted, de-stemmed, and berry-sorted. The wine spent 48 hours cold-soaking, before careful fermentation, lasting 14 days. The wine was left in tank for extended maceration for an additional period, to further extract the unique aspects of the vintage and provide maximum integration. The free-run wine was cellared in varying formats of 100% new French oak. After 21 months in select cooperages, 4 barrels were meticulously selected and carefully blended.
The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered to ensure everything was preserved as intended: purity, vibrancy, and intensity. Only 97 cases were bottled.
The Tenor Merlot features two separate Merlot clones: clone 6 and clone 2.
Tasting Notes
The 2021 Tenor Merlot is garnet with a luminous vermillion rim. Intoxicating aromas of wild berry compote, cacao nib, and French lavender captivate. The palate is multi-dimensional, energetic, heady, full-bodied, and silky. Flavors of black plum, caramel, fig, and sandalwood lead to a finish that lasts for minutes detailing espresso, baking spice, and dried black cherry.
Labeled Appellation
Varietal Composition
100% Merlot
Alcohol
15.2%
Cases Produced
97
Drinkability
Now - 2040
Awards & Accolades
"The 2021 Tenor Merlot is a rich and deep bottling that is amongst the finest renditions in the state. Right away the wine is very alluring with its high-toned red florals that mingle well with cigar box, and concentrated dark fruits with chocolate tones. The palate displays some glorious concentration with refined tannins that frame a heady core of huckleberry and black currant fruits, with graphite and espresso ground notes on the palate. This is already a beautiful wine to consume now."
- 96 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
"A gorgeous blend of crushed blueberries, sage and lavender wafts up from the 2021 Merlot. It’s soft and supple, with juicy acidity that offsets its inner wild berry fruits and zesty orange tones. The 2021 keeps the energy high, finishing long and lightly structured with a cheek-puckering tension. Hints of dark chocolate fade. In 2021, the sources were 50% Horse Heaven Hills and 50% White Bluffs, with 21 months spent in new French oak."
-93 points, Eric Guido, Vinous