Pheasant Run Vineyard Reserve Merlot
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted duck, creamy mushroom risotto, grilled lamb chops
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1983 in Paterson, Washington, along the banks of the Columbia River, Columbia Crest is one of the Pacific Northwest's most significant and celebrated wineries. Owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the winery operates a state-of-the-art facility in the Columbia Valley, combining modern gravity-flow techniques with traditional oak barrel aging. Columbia Crest is renowned for delivering exceptional quality and value, showcasing the region's unique terroir through its Grand Estates, H3, and Two Vines series. Their signature expressions include robust Cabernet Sauvignon, velvety Merlot, and the prestigious Walter Clore Private Reserve, which honors the pioneer of Washington viticulture. This dedication to craft has cemented their reputation as a benchmark producer of Washington State wine on the global stage.