Planted along the banks for the Columbia River, at the southern tip of Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Alder Ridge Vineyard’s site selection is second to none. Benefiting from the warmer continental climate of Columbia Valley’s growing season, but with cooling effects from the proximity of the river, high winds from the gorge, and large drops in nighttime temperatures- creates a beautiful balance of enough heat to optimally ripen, but cool enough to retain the fruit’s vibrancy.
This Merlot was sourced from Alder Ridge Vineyard’s Block 8, which is settled at mid elevations along the bluffs. This location, along with the high winds from the gorge, allow the grape skins to thicken, resulting in highly concentrated, rich flavors.
When harvested, we completely destemmed then separated the berries into two separate ferments. After a five-day cold soak, we inoculated the ferment with two different yeast strains. With a healthy mix of pump overs & punchdowns, we constantly checked the ferments for optimal mouthfeel. Once fermentation was complete and the right amount of tannin was extracted, we drained the wine from the fermenter, then pressed. Once in barrel, the wine was cellared for extended aging (18 months). This process was very deliberate to deliver a Merlot that showcased a balance of finesse & definition on the palate- a velvety texture with building tannin presence toward the finish. The final wine shows strong aromatics with a wonderful array of dark cherry, caramel and chocolate notes.
