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2004 Reserve Merlot
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, Winemaker
Growing Season
- A hot, dry growing season created ideal flavor maturity and promoted an early harvest start.
- Cool temperatures and intermittent rain in mid-September prompted extended hang time, which allowed the grapes to reach ideal physiologic maturing.
- The 2004 harvest is characterized by smaller berry and cluster size, with intense flavors, good sugar development and high natural acidity.
Vineyards
- Fruit was handpicked from the top 10% of the vintage’s best vineyards for Columbia Crest’s Reserve Merlot.
- 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.
- The balance between the growing season’s warm daytime temperatures and cooler nights, particularly during the ripening period, concentrated aromatics and enhanced complexity.
- Low rainfall stressed the vines, and irrigation was applied judiciously to create concentrated varietal expression.
Vinification
- Grapes were crushed with 30% whole berries remaining.
- Cold soaking on the skins for two days extracted soft tannins and intense color.
- Fermentation, including twice-daily pump overs, lasted to 10 days, depending on the lot.
- Malolactic fermentation occurred in primarily new French (72%) and one-year-old American (19%) oak barrels.
- The wine aged in barrels for 27 months.
Technical Data
- Total acidity: 0.54 g/100ml
- pH: 3.68
- Alcohol: 14.2%