Red Wines    Merlot    Columbia Valley    Washington   
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Date Printed: 5/22/2013
Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot 2000
Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot 2000
 (search item no. 61958)
Wine Spectator rating: 92 points
PRICE ON 5/22/2013: $7.99

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2009 Wine Enthusiast rating: 92 points
2009 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
2008 The Wine Advocate rating: 91 points
2008 Wine Enthusiast rating: 91 points
2008 Wine Spectator rating: 90 points
2007 Wine Enthusiast rating: 93 points
2007 The Wine Advocate rating: 92 points
2007 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points
2007 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
2006 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points
2006 The Wine Advocate rating: 91 points
2005 Wine Enthusiast rating: 91 points
2004 Wine Enthusiast rating: 92 points
2003 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points
2002 Wine Spectator rating: 88 points
2002 Wine Enthusiast rating: 88 points
2001 The Wine Advocate rating: 91 points
2001 Wine & Spirits rating: 91 points
2001 Wine Enthusiast rating: 90 points
1999 Wine Enthusiast rating: 94 points
1999 Wine Spectator rating: 91 points
1999 The Wine Advocate rating: 91 points
1999 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
1998 Wine Enthusiast rating: 93 points
1998 The Wine Advocate rating: 92 points
1998 International Wine Cellar rating: 90 points
1998 Wine Spectator rating: 88 points

Winemaker's Notes:

 "Stimson Lane's Merlot-only winery has a winner with this dark, ripe red, notable for its balance and finesse. It's not heavy but fleshy, with coffee and black pepper-scented plum, blueberry and dried currant flavors that echo intensively on the fine-grained finish. Drink now through 2007."
- Wine Spectator

79% Merlot; 21% Cabernet Sauvignon. Power and finesse come to mind when tasting this wine. Big structure with smooth tannins and beautiful oak flavors in the finish. Ripe plum and concentrated dark ripe fruit such as raspberry, blackberry and cherry explode in the mouth.

Building on Washington state's penchant for Merlots with rich, supple texture, depth and structure, Northstar produced its first wine in 1994. Ours is an on-going exploration of Washington's star grape variety. Quantities are extremely limited, but if you love Merlot, we think you'll find this wine worth seeking.

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My Notes:

Additional wines from Northstar:

About Northstar:

 Northstar, located in Walla Walla, Washington, aims to make Merlots that can be considered among the world's best, using fruit sourced from one of the world's best regions for the variety: Washington state. Winemaker, David "Merf" Merfeld, blends New World fruit with an old world winemaking style, influenced by Bordeaux's "right bank," to create his highly-acclaimed wines. Northstar produces two Merlot-based wines from the Columbia Valley and Walla Walla AVAs, as well as the Stella Maris red blend and extremely limited production bottlings of the blending component varieties that Merf uses as his "spice box" in creating Northstar's Merlots.