Merlot
⏳ Drinking Window
2018 - 2024
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Washington State has long been celebrated as one of the premier regions in the world for Merlot, where the grape achieves a rare balance of power, structure, and vibrant acidity. JM Cellars crafts their Merlot to showcase this distinctive regional character, drawing fruit from acclaimed, sustainably-farmed vineyards such as Stillwater Creek and their estate Margaret's Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. In the glass, this wine reflects the dramatic diurnal temperature shifts of the Columbia Basin, which allow the grapes to develop deep, concentrated flavors of dark cherry, plum, and cocoa while retaining a fresh, balanced spine. Aged in French oak, it represents a harmonious marriage of traditional French inspiration and bold Pacific Northwest terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1998 by John and Peggy Bigelow, JM Cellars is an acclaimed family-owned winery nestled amidst the wooded tranquility of Bramble Bump in Woodinville, Washington, alongside their estate plantings at Margaret's Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. Committed to sustainable, small-lot craftsmanship, the winery sources premium fruit across renowned Pacific Northwest AVAs to produce wines with balanced structure and authentic varietal character. JM Cellars is celebrated for its diverse and expressive portfolio, ranging from signature Bordeaux-style blends and single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings to vibrant Rhône varietals and small-production whites.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Merlot