Airfield Estates

Yakima Valley Merlot

8.819 ratings
9.05 pro ratings
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Merlot
Lamb, Chocolate & Caramel, Herbs, Soft Cheese, Salami & Prosciutto, Turkey, Pasta, Mushrooms, Veal, Tomato-Based, Chicken, Exotic Spices, Potato, White Rice, Duck, Nuts & Seeds, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Asian Cuisine, Salads & Greens, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, Quinoa, Beef, Chili & Hot Spicy, Hard Cheese, Pork, Pungent Cheese, Venison
Top Notes For
Matt Sterr

Good value.

Good value.

Mar 12th, 2018
Joe Christenson

Really beautiful garnet color. Nose is subdued, most purple fruit and woodsy cedar notes. Plum, dark cherry, raspberry, and blackberry, as well as an ashy tobacco, leather, and cedar wood box on the palate. A hint of green pepper. I want to like this one more but it just doesn’t quite have the balance or concentration. The earthy notes are too one dimensional and a bit too strong , which keeps the fruit from really shining.

Really beautiful garnet color. Nose is subdued, most purple fruit and woodsy cedar notes. Plum, dark cherry, raspberry, and blackberry, as well as an ashy tobacco, leather, and cedar wood box on the palate. A hint of green pepper. I want to like this one more but it just doesn’t quite have the balance or concentration. The earthy notes are too one dimensional and a bit too strong , which keeps the fruit from really shining.

Feb 21st, 2021
ESF
8.4

Yawn: nothing special here, varietally correct, not as sturdy or concentrated as I hoped w/mediocre finish.

Yawn: nothing special here, varietally correct, not as sturdy or concentrated as I hoped w/mediocre finish.

Jan 31st, 2021
Zachary Price

We visited the Airfield tasting room in Woodinville on our first tasting trip as Seattle transplants - mainly due to the fact that they still, astonishingly, had a five dollar fee for six (heavy) pours. Airfield uses 100% estate grown grapes (27 varietals) out of their 860 acres in Yakima Valley going on now for 40 years. The climate and geography are such that, according to the producer, they do not rely on grafted rootstock. The winery takes it's name due to its proximity to a WWII airbase at the foot of the Rattlesnake Mountains. Of the three styles of Merlot, this one falls into the fruit/tannic bucket. Paired with a brown butter gnocchi. ~$25 | #airfield #merlot #yakimavalley

On the eyes: Deep, opaque, purplish-ruby, med+ stain, med+ tears. No gas/floc.

On the nose: A bit vinuous, blackberry, ripe black plum, violet, a bit of wet slate, med alcohol.

On the tongue: Med acid, med alcohol, med+ tannin, round in the mouth, med body. Blackberry, floral, jammy plum, ending in thick clove. Decent finish.

We visited the Airfield tasting room in Woodinville on our first tasting trip as Seattle transplants - mainly due to the fact that they still, astonishingly, had a five dollar fee for six (heavy) pours. Airfield uses 100% estate grown grapes (27 varietals) out of their 860 acres in Yakima Valley going on now for 40 years. The climate and geography are such that, according to the producer, they do not rely on grafted rootstock. The winery takes it's name due to its proximity to a WWII airbase at the foot of the Rattlesnake Mountains. Of the three styles of Merlot, this one falls into the fruit/tannic bucket. Paired with a brown butter gnocchi. ~$25 | #airfield #merlot #yakimavalley

On the eyes: Deep, opaque, purplish-ruby, med+ stain, med+ tears. No gas/floc.

On the nose: A bit vinuous, blackberry, ripe black plum, violet, a bit of wet slate, med alcohol.

On the tongue: Med acid, med alcohol, med+ tannin, round in the mouth, med body. Blackberry, floral, jammy plum, ending in thick clove. Decent finish.

Aug 20th, 2016
Michael VeeEss

Bold and peppery. A good find.

Bold and peppery. A good find.

Oct 19th, 2014
Chris Ebbert

Woodinville, Wa / Prosser

Woodinville, Wa / Prosser

Apr 7th, 2013
John Berghoff

John had this 8 years ago

John had this 8 years ago

Apr 19th, 2016
Bryant Bickel

Bryant had this 8 years ago

Bryant had this 8 years ago

Feb 6th, 2016
John Berghoff

John had this 9 years ago

John had this 9 years ago

Nov 4th, 2014
John Berghoff

John had this 10 years ago

John had this 10 years ago

Jul 15th, 2014