Pheasant Run Vineyard Reserve Merlot
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted duck, creamy mushroom risotto, grilled lamb chops
✨ Technical Specifications
Representing the pinnacle of Columbia Crest's artisanal winemaking, the Reserve Merlot sourced from the prestigious Walla Walla Valley showcases the exceptional potential of Washington State Merlot. The Walla Walla Valley, with its unique combination of wind-blown loess soils, warm days, and cool nights, imparts a distinctive structural elegance and aromatic complexity to the grape. In the cellar, Columbia Crest treats its Reserve tier with meticulous care, employing small-lot fermentation and extensive aging in select French oak barrels. This approach yields a Merlot of remarkable depth, balancing lush black cherry and plum flavors with refined tannins, cocoa notes, and a vibrant mineral undertone. It stands as a testament to the region's history, where early viticultural pioneers discovered that the rugged Columbia Basin terroir could produce Merlots capable of rivaling the finest in the world.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1983 in Paterson along the sun-drenched banks of the Columbia River, Columbia Crest has played a pivotal role in establishing Washington State as a premier world-class wine region. Situated in the heart of the Columbia Valley and Horse Heaven Hills, the estate benefits from ideal growing conditions characterized by warm diurnal shifts and well-draining soils. The winery focuses on precision viticulture and modern cellar craft to produce wines of remarkable consistency, depth, and accessibility. Columbia Crest is celebrated for its rich, structured Cabernet Sauvignon, plush Merlot, and vibrant Chardonnay, featured prominently across acclaimed ranges such as Grand Estates, H3, and the flagship Walter Clore Private Reserve.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Merlot