Mag. Wine Co. "Merlot"

[stevebody]

Gotta put in a plug here for the first edition of my friend Charles Smith's "Merlot" (as it says on the bottle) It's Walla Walla Valley fruit, sourced from 4 vineyards, and has a nose huge as Emmett Kelley. You can hold the stuff at arm's length and smell it cleanly. On the palate, it's a little rambunctious but delicious, with explosive berry fruit, a seashore scent and savory minerality, and density for days. It needs maybe a year to think things over but should be absoultely KILLER after that. It runs under $20 and is only scantily available outside WA. We have it at Esquin, if you're in a state we can ship to. His winery is called The Magnificent Wine Company of Walla Walla. (Charles is not afflicted with humility)

One of the five best under $30 Merlots from WA I've tasted this year.