Arbor Crest Merlot 2001

This 2000 Columbia Valley Merlot is an excellent example of a full-bodied Washington Merlot. Ripe and concentrated, this wine strings layers of intense raspberry, complex currant and blueberry notes framed by spicy, vanilla-scented oak. Barrel aged in French oak for eighteen months, this elegant wine finishes boldly with intense cherry, blackberry and plum flavors lingering nicely on the palate. The vines are grown on original, ungrafted rootstock, which provides the grapes their intense varietal character. This wine embodies a tradition of red wine excellence, ensuring a memorable tasting experience.

"The winemaking at this Spokane-based winery goes from strength to strength. The latest example is this firm-textured red, generous in flavor, fleshy enough to show its beautiful currant, blackberry and roasted red pepper character in a spotlight, all of it echoing smoothly on the superfine finish. Drink now through 2008."
-Wine Spectator