2022Reserve Merlot
2022Reserve Merlot
The 2022 Matthews Reserve Merlot is comprised of several vineyard parcels within the greater Columbia Valley. Key sites are from Royal Slope (Solaksen), Red Mountain (Red Mountain Vineyard, Two of Us vineyard) Horse Heaven Hills (Spice Cabinet Vineyard), and Conner Lee Vineyard in the Columbia Valley, allowing this wine to truly represent the broad flavor and aromatic expression of Merlot from the diverse terroir of the Columbia Valley AVA.
The winemaking team worked with our vineyard managers to restrict yields, creating small, concentrated berries. Cool fall nights preserved freshness in the wine while continuing to develop flavor. Hand-harvesting took place in the early mornings in mid-October, and lasted into early November (a record for us).
At the winery, the fruit was destemmed and berry-sorted. Prior to fermentation, nearly 30% of volume was saignéed from tank to ensure maximum concentration across all varietals. Fermentations were kept even throughout primary, lasting an average of 14-17 days. Afterward, the wine spent and extra 2-3 weeks in tank for extended maceration before being barreled down into 100% new French oak (Darnajou, Taransaud, Sylvain, Quintessence). The wine was cellared for 21 months with 38 barrels selected and carefully blended, resulting in only 983 cases. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve purity, vibrancy, and intensity.
Deep garnet core, dense purple rim. The nose is a captivating promise: crushed rock minerality meets exotic sandalwood, dark black forest cake, and bright black cherry, with a whisper of crème de violette. The palate explodes with ripe fruit—blueberry pie, luscious blackberry jam, and decadent raspberry liqueur. Hints of licorice and candied violets mingle with subtle clove and a whisper of unsmoked cigar. Sweet, velvety tannins frame the ultra-concentrated, full-bodied wine, while vibrant acidity provides lift. The finish lingers, a symphony of Chinese five spice, damp earth, and dark cassis, leaving a lasting impression of richness and depth.
Awards & Accolades
"Made from a blend of areas to show what is possible with Washington Merlot and blended with 14% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Merlot Reserve is pretty and aromatic in gravel minerality and crème de cassis. Its thick tannin profile is softened by classic elements of dried herb, iron, pencil, and mocha, with plenty of full-bodied power, stuffing, and structure. Cellar through 2042."
-97 points, Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com
"The 2022 ‘Columbia Valley [Reserve]’ Merlot has a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. It is inky in the glass, offering dark chocolate shavings, Turkish coffee, anise and shades of creme de violette with freshly tilled soils that all take shape in the glass. The palate is heady and intense with serious texture and underlying verve. A very pleasurable drinking experience in its core of dense dark fruits alongside tar and graphite accents, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten to fifteen years."
-97 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
"The reserve is more Right Bank Bordeaux blend than straight-on varietal Merlot, as it includes 14% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged in 100% new French oak, and is intensely aromatic with dark, plush, velvety scents leading into a mouthful of well-knit flavors of black fruits, espresso, pencil lead, tobacco and composted earth. There’s no mistaking the power you’ve unleashed in your glass, yet it carries itself with a kind of restraint as it leads you down through the focused finish. This is right up there with the best in the West."
-97 points, Paul Gregutt, Northwest Wine Guide
"The 2022 Merlot Reserve is youthfully coy with a savory mix of crushed raspberries, spiced orange peels, rose petals and cedary spice. It's elegant and creamy in feel, with cooling acidity and a core of wild blueberry and cocoa that saturates the senses. A wall of fine-grained tannins flex upon the palate, as this finishes with incredible length and concentration. The 2022 leaves a bitter tinge of dark chocolate that fades slowly. Patience will be required, but also rewarded."
-94 points, Eric Guido, Vinous
"This full-bodied, broad and textural red has aromas and flavors of baked blue fruit, violets, cedar and raw cocoa. Hint of blueberry pie, too. Plush yet firm in tannins with lots of richness. 79% merlot with 14% cabernet sauvignon and 7% cabernet franc. Drink from 2026."
-93 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
"The 2022 Reserve Merlot is a blend of 79% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon matured for 21 months in 100% new French oak. It has layered aromas of red cherry, blackberry jam, prosciutto, garrigue and gravel dust. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and mineral-driven, and its new oak is well integrated. It has a powerful frame of powdery tannins, juicy acidity and a long, latent finish."
-92+ points, Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate
