Airfield Estates
Yakima Valley Merlot
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
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.
