Tasting Notes
90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2022 Little Sister Merlot presents a deep, dark purple hue, hinting at it's concentration and depth. On the nose, the wine opens with a captivating perfume of crushed violets intertwined with dark fruit aromatics. The palate impresses with a great weight and structure, delivering a silky mouthfeel with flavors of plum and red current, beautifully balanced by subtle gravel and mineral notes. This complex and age-worthy Merlot promises to evolve gracefully over time while offering immediate pleasure with a harmonious blend of fruit, floral, and earthy elements.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2022
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Columbia Valley
Vineyard Designation
Red Willow, Ciel du Cheval, Quintessence
Aging
100% new French oak. 21 months in barrel
Alcohol %
14.7
Winemaker Notes
The merlot for the 2022 Little Sister is a combination to two premium vineyards: Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain and Red Willow in the upper Yakima Valley. The merlot from Ciel du Cheval was planted in 1994 and lends brilliant red cherry and spice notes to the blend. The merlot from Red Willow was planted in 1993 and offers dark, savory fruit and exceptional depth and texture to the palate. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from Quintessence vineyard brings layers of spice and dark fruits with additional volume. The wine was fermented in a combination of 1.5, 2 and 5-ton open top fermenters for 7-10 days. The wine is lightly pressed to barrel, where it finishes primary and malolactic fermentation and is aged for 21 months in 100% new French oak.