Bookwalter 91 points

2005 Merlot (Columbia Valley)

The 2005 continues along the established path of this rising star winery. It’s big, no holds barred, rich and jammy, and just a bit warm at 14.8% alcohol. The fruit is nicely woven together, brambly and dark, and coated with clean barrel flavors of coffee and chocolate. Everything is balanced and forward, but you get the sense that this wine is holding something back for the future.