2022 Matthews Columbia Valley Merlot

We are thrilled to announce the release of our 2022 Columbia Valley Merlot. This is the first time in Matthews history we are releasing a Merlot within our Columbia Valley line of wines.

Merlot was once the most widely planted grape and the most popular wine in the world, for good reason. Its story begins on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, where clay-rich soils help the variety ripen fully and build its hallmark texture. From Bordeaux, Merlot found new homes in California and Bolgheri, where climate and clientele embraced its plush textures and alluring aromatics. Each place added a chapter to Merlot’s reputation for generosity, polish, and age-worthy charm.

Now widely planted across the Columbia Valley, our home region offers near-perfect conditions for this iconic grape. Long, sun-filled days bring physiological ripeness while cool nights lock in freshness and shape supple structure. The result is a Merlot with more energy, more lift, and more dimension. When our terroir is fully harnessed, Columbia Valley Merlot feels both classic and new, earning its place on tastings and tables for devoted fans from Italy and Bordeaux to across the United States.

The 2022 Matthews Columbia Valley Merlot draws on multiple vineyard parcels to capture the AVA’s range. Royal Slope contributes drive and tension from Solaksen and Scarline. Red Mountain Vineyard adds depth and grip. Horse Heaven Hills sites, including Wallula Gap Vineyard, Eagle and Plow, and Cavalie, bring dark fruit and savory detail. Conner Lee in the Columbia Valley layers in elegance and aromatic lift. Together, these sites create a vivid panorama of Merlot’s flavor and perfume across our region.

Farming was purposefully constrained to favor concentration. Working hand in hand with vineyard managers, we restricted yields to produce small, intensely flavored berries. Cool fall nights preserved natural acidity while flavors continued to develop. Hand harvesting began in the early mornings of mid-October and continued into early November, one of our latest pick windows on record and a clear signal of the patient approach this wine required.

At the winery, clusters were destemmed and berry-sorted. Prior to fermentation, nearly 30 percent of the juice was removed by saignée to heighten concentration. Primary fermentations were kept even and steady over 14 to 17 days. The young wine then spent an additional 2 to 3 weeks in tank for extended maceration to integrate tannin and deepen texture before being barreled down to French oak, 28 percent new. It rested for 21 months prior to selection and blending.

Sixty barrels were chosen for the final cuvée, yielding 1,468 cases. Bottling took place without fining or filtration to preserve purity, vibrancy, and intensity.

In the glass, look for generous red and black fruits framed by cocoa, subtle herb, and gentle baking spice. The palate carries supple, fine-grained tannins with a lifted core and a long, polished finish. Pair with roasted meats, mushroom-driven dishes, or aged cheeses. Enjoy on release for its energy and perfume, or cellar 8 to 12 years for added tertiary complexity.

Final blend: 92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

Clonal selection: Merlot 2, 3, 6, 15; Cabernet Sauvignon 8

Praise for the 2022 Columbia Valley Merlot: 

“Mostly Merlot, with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend, this sexy, supple, aromatic wine is textbook Washington Merlot. The small addition of Cabernet may have contributed the dark streak of cassis and bumped up the tannins, adding depth and verticality to the broader flavors of Merlot. It coats the palate with black fruits, coffee grounds, graphite and sweet tobacco highlights. Tannins are fully ripened and extend the finish while adding texture all the way through as it gently fades away.”

-94 points, Paul Gregutt, Northwest Wine Guide

“The 2022 Merlot offers the variety's signature softness and accessibility in a complex, relatively structured coming together of earthy clove, tobacco, and dried herb. With 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has plenty of power and weight, expanding across the palate in dense, full-bodied layers of polished tannin. Drink through 2032.”

-91 points, Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com

“Dark-fruited and chocolaty merlot with ripe plums, blackberries, licorice and hints of dried leaves. Plush, wide-structured and generously filled with ripe dark berries, it has medium to full body with smooth texture and a chalky grip on the finish. Drink now or hold.”

-91 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com