2015 Basel Cellars Merriment, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

This is a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 25% Malbec, and 12% Cabernet Franc. Medium deep purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is dusty with cassis, cherries, spice, slight tobacco and slight milk chocolate. Medium bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, cassis with some black cherries with underlying spice and slight char. This drinks nicely on its own but will work better with food. Lamb stew would be a nice choice. Drink over the next five to seven years.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2015

Current Price:

$50.00USD

2016 Five Star Cellars Stellar, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$62.00USD

First time trying this winery. This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc from Washington. Inky purple in color, slight ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, spice, and slight char. Medium to full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this is not super ripe. Black cherries with a mint/herbal note that is nice. Nice finish. This is nice on its own, but better with food. This would be a nice wine with a grilled Portabella sandwich. Drink over the next seven to ten years.

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Ferguson Vineyard, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$54.00USD

This is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec from a single vineyard in Washington. Purple in color, a bit flat and opaque. The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, tobacco and slight cedar. Full bodied. Full bodied. Firm tannins. On the palate, black cherries, cherries with underlying spice. Long finish. A bitter cherry note on the finish. This still seems to need some time or air; maybe a few more years. It should improve and then drink well for another seven to ten after that. It drinks well on its own and would work well

2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Ferguson Vineyard, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

Vintage:

2011

Score:

Grade:

A-

This is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc from Washington. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, black cherries, cedar and spice. Firm tannins. On the palate, this is a big, ripe wine (especially for Walla Walla) but there is some depth. Black cherries, some cassis and cedar notes. This drinks well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years. It drinks very well on its own but should work well with food to go with the ripeness (i.e. Duck a L'Orange).

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Ferguson Vineyard Walla Walla Valley, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$70.00USD

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Purple in color with slight ruby swirls. The nose is interesting with clay, black cherries and cassis. Full bodied. On the palate, this is slightly sweet with cassis and cedar. Nice finish. Drinking well now. Drink over the next five to eight years. A nice match with roasted duck.

2013 Seven of Hearts Chateau Figareaux Tradition, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

Washington state makes some excellent Merlots and "Right Bank" blends. This is another case in point. The wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is classic and enticing. Black cherries, cassis, bell pepper, chocolate, and spice. Nice texture. Great balance. On the palate, at age eleven, this is showing a nice maturity. perhaps just on the younger side of fully mature. Complex and layered with flavors of cherries, black cherries, milk chocolate, and underlying earthiness and char. Long

2015 Basel Cellars Merriment, USA, Washington, Walla Walla, Wine Review

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