Pepper Bridge
Estate Vineyards Walla Walla Valley Merlot
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
dark berries and fruits. sage, gamely, graphite. w/cab franc, malbec. 18 mos oak, FR 44% new. grippy. age would be wise
dark berries and fruits. sage, gamely, graphite. w/cab franc, malbec. 18 mos oak, FR 44% new. grippy. age would be wise
Nov 11th, 2022
The 2015 Pepper Bridge Merlot is an excellent bottling which was sourced from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards. The Merlot has 14% Cabernet Franc and 7% Malbec blended in. This shows perfumed red fruits and toasty oak on the nose. The palate has a smooth texture and lovely mouthfeel. Bright, mouthwatering acidity connects with red cherry cordial, black tea, and blackberry pie flavors. While this is rich it also displays notable tension. Enjoy this delicious effort over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92
The 2015 Pepper Bridge Merlot is an excellent bottling which was sourced from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards. The Merlot has 14% Cabernet Franc and 7% Malbec blended in. This shows perfumed red fruits and toasty oak on the nose. The palate has a smooth texture and lovely mouthfeel. Bright, mouthwatering acidity connects with red cherry cordial, black tea, and blackberry pie flavors. While this is rich it also displays notable tension. Enjoy this delicious effort over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92
Feb 19th, 2019
Purple fruits, black tea, cherry and ripe fig. This is a crowd pleaser right now with supple tannins that make this easy sipping. It's not all Merlot but rather 78% Merlot, 15% Franc and 7% Malbec.
Purple fruits, black tea, cherry and ripe fig. This is a crowd pleaser right now with supple tannins that make this easy sipping. It's not all Merlot but rather 78% Merlot, 15% Franc and 7% Malbec.
Oct 8th, 2018
Produces Bordeaux-style wines, family owned by Norm McKibben, Ray Goff and Jean-François Pellet. A blend of 78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc & 7% Malbec, aged for 17 months in French oak (38% new), aromas of sweet berry fruit with rustic spice character. On the palate cherry and raspberry with smoky leather and cacao notes. Fine tannins nicely balanced on lingering finish ending with oaky tones. Very nice drinking well but has room to age a bit. A classic Walla Walla.
Produces Bordeaux-style wines, family owned by Norm McKibben, Ray Goff and Jean-François Pellet. A blend of 78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc & 7% Malbec, aged for 17 months in French oak (38% new), aromas of sweet berry fruit with rustic spice character. On the palate cherry and raspberry with smoky leather and cacao notes. Fine tannins nicely balanced on lingering finish ending with oaky tones. Very nice drinking well but has room to age a bit. A classic Walla Walla.
Jan 26th, 2018
The 14 is a blend of 77% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc & 7% Merlot. Nose of; ruby dark cassis, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of blue fruits, pepper and liquid violets. The mouthfeel is lush & ruby. M+ body & M+ tannins. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries and hues of blue fruits. Crushed rocks, soft leather, dry herbs, underbrush, loamy soil powder, notes of cigar, violets, dark florals, nice acidity and beautifully round, lush finish with sex appeal. Photos of; an aerial view of Pepper Bridge, estate grapes going through veraison, Owner-Norm McKibben, and ground shot of the estate. Producer notes and history...Norm McKibben is one of founding fathers of Walla Walla's wine industry. To his good friends and colleagues, he is better know as "Stormin' Norman." In Norm's 30 plus years in Walla Walla, the valley has evolved from a 40 vineyard acres to an appellation with more than 2,800 acres under vine. A good portion of the boom can be attributed to Norm even after coming to the game late after working for several decades as an engineer in the construction industry. Not wanting to retire after, he moved to Walla Walla to become an apple farmer. In 1989, he realized Walla Walla's potential for grape growing. Norm planted his first vineyard with help from his wife, Virginia and their eldest son, Shane. Two years later, Norm added Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. These vines soon became the backbone of Pepper Bridge. Not long after he expanded his business and resume further. Norm got involved in the budding wine industry. He served as a partner and director at Canoe Ridge Vineyards, Hogue Cellars and worked with a number of Walla Walla's leading vintners. In 1996, he partnered with Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar and Marty Clubb of L'Ecole No. 41. At this point, McKibben had increased his vineyard holdings to 200 acres. In 1998, Norm officially started Pepper Bridge Winery. Today, Pepper Bridge Winery is a benchmark property in Walla Walla and Norm is an icon of the industry. He manages and consults for more than 600 acres of the top vineyard sites in Walla Walla; Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and Les Collines. Norm also has introduced state of the art irrigation systems, soil moisture temperature monitoring equipment and sustainable farming techniques. Norm is a big believer in sustainable viticulture. All of his vineyards are certified sustainable by VINEA, the Walla Walla Valley's Sustainable Trust, and LIVE, an Oregon-based sustainable viticulture organization. They are also certified Salmon Safe and are monitored by the IOBC, the international body responsible for setting sustainability standards. In 1998, the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers honored Norm as "Grape Grower of the Year." That same year, he was appointed chair of the Washington Wine Commission and served in that position until retiring from the organization in 2001. If there is a Maverick of the Walla Walla wine producers, it would be Norm.
The 14 is a blend of 77% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc & 7% Merlot. Nose of; ruby dark cassis, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of blue fruits, pepper and liquid violets. The mouthfeel is lush & ruby. M+ body & M+ tannins. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries and hues of blue fruits. Crushed rocks, soft leather, dry herbs, underbrush, loamy soil powder, notes of cigar, violets, dark florals, nice acidity and beautifully round, lush finish with sex appeal. Photos of; an aerial view of Pepper Bridge, estate grapes going through veraison, Owner-Norm McKibben, and ground shot of the estate. Producer notes and history...Norm McKibben is one of founding fathers of Walla Walla's wine industry. To his good friends and colleagues, he is better know as "Stormin' Norman." In Norm's 30 plus years in Walla Walla, the valley has evolved from a 40 vineyard acres to an appellation with more than 2,800 acres under vine. A good portion of the boom can be attributed to Norm even after coming to the game late after working for several decades as an engineer in the construction industry. Not wanting to retire after, he moved to Walla Walla to become an apple farmer. In 1989, he realized Walla Walla's potential for grape growing. Norm planted his first vineyard with help from his wife, Virginia and their eldest son, Shane. Two years later, Norm added Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. These vines soon became the backbone of Pepper Bridge. Not long after he expanded his business and resume further. Norm got involved in the budding wine industry. He served as a partner and director at Canoe Ridge Vineyards, Hogue Cellars and worked with a number of Walla Walla's leading vintners. In 1996, he partnered with Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar and Marty Clubb of L'Ecole No. 41. At this point, McKibben had increased his vineyard holdings to 200 acres. In 1998, Norm officially started Pepper Bridge Winery. Today, Pepper Bridge Winery is a benchmark property in Walla Walla and Norm is an icon of the industry. He manages and consults for more than 600 acres of the top vineyard sites in Walla Walla; Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and Les Collines. Norm also has introduced state of the art irrigation systems, soil moisture temperature monitoring equipment and sustainable farming techniques. Norm is a big believer in sustainable viticulture. All of his vineyards are certified sustainable by VINEA, the Walla Walla Valley's Sustainable Trust, and LIVE, an Oregon-based sustainable viticulture organization. They are also certified Salmon Safe and are monitored by the IOBC, the international body responsible for setting sustainability standards. In 1998, the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers honored Norm as "Grape Grower of the Year." That same year, he was appointed chair of the Washington Wine Commission and served in that position until retiring from the organization in 2001. If there is a Maverick of the Walla Walla wine producers, it would be Norm.
Aug 23rd, 2017
Delish Merlot from Washington!
Delish Merlot from Washington!
Feb 9th, 2016
Fruit forward and smooth, refined, delicate tannins.
Fruit forward and smooth, refined, delicate tannins.
Oct 31st, 2015
Dusty earth and graphite with cassis and. blackberry. Round tannins and richly layered spices.
Dusty earth and graphite with cassis and. blackberry. Round tannins and richly layered spices.
Mar 22nd, 2015Quite nice the second day. Still looking towards the top of the hill.
Quite nice the second day. Still looking towards the top of the hill.
Feb 16th, 2015Sweet, ripe red fruit showing. Pronounced aroma or Kirsch. Rich and velvety texture.
Sweet, ripe red fruit showing. Pronounced aroma or Kirsch. Rich and velvety texture.
Jan 29th, 2015