Merlot Grand Estates
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 3–7 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted pork loin, grilled lamb chops, pasta with bolognese sauce
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the sun-drenched slopes of Washington State's Columbia Valley, the Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot is a testament to the region's ability to craft world-class Merlot. The Columbia Valley's unique geography—sheltered from rain by the Cascade Mountains—creates a semi-arid climate with intense sunlight and cool desert nights. This dramatic diurnal temperature swing preserves natural acidity while allowing the grapes to develop rich, concentrated flavors. Historically, Columbia Crest played a pivotal role in putting Washington State on the global wine map during the late 20th century, proving that the region's sandy, gravelly soils were perfectly suited for Bordeaux varieties. This Merlot is crafted in a style that emphasizes lush fruit, velvety tannins, and approachable complexity, achieved through careful oak aging that imparts subtle notes of cocoa and baking spice.
🍾 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
13.5-14.5%