H3 Merlot
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled flank steak, roasted duck, rosemary-crusted lamb chops
✨ Technical Specifications
The H3 Merlot from Columbia Crest is a tribute to the unique terroir of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA in Washington State. The name 'Horse Heaven Hills' itself dates back to 1857, when pioneer James Kinney gazed upon the pristine, wind-swept landscape and declared it 'horse heaven.' This rugged region, bordered by the Columbia River, experiences strong winds and dramatic temperature shifts that thicken grape skins and concentrate flavors. The H3 Merlot showcases this distinctive terroir, offering a velvety texture, robust structure, and rich dark fruit character. Crafted with modern gravity-flow methods and aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels, this wine beautifully balances the power of Washington fruit with refined, supple tannins.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Columbia Crest was the pioneer winery founded within what is now the acclaimed Horse Heaven Hills AVA of eastern Washington. Situated along the benchlands above the Columbia River, the estate takes full advantage of a semi-arid, rain-shadowed microclimate marked by intense summer sunshine, constant river breezes that deter frost and pests, and fast-draining, wind-blown Warden silt loam soils. Initial plantings in 1978 and early winemaking under founding cellar master Doug Gore established the winery's benchmark status for reliable varietal purity and commercial scale. The production regimen bridges large-scale precision with small-lot barrel fermentation and French and American oak aging. Columbia Crest cemented its reputation when its 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year. Today, the estate produces tiered selections ranging from the everyday Two Vines and Grand Estates labels to vineyard-driven Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Merlot
🍷 ABV
14.0-14.5%