2017 Matthews Reserve Merlot

The 2017 Matthews Reserve Merlot was crafted from five small vineyard parcels inside the Columbia Valley AVA, three on Red Mountain and two along the Royal Slope. Farmed using sustainable practices, the vines were limited to one-two clusters per shoot to create maximum concentration in each cluster. They were hand-harvested in the early mornings between September 8th - October 4th, 2017. Upon arriving in the winery, each cluster was hand-sorted, berry-sorted, and fermented in a combination of concrete (73%) and stainless steel (27%) tanks. Using only the free-run wine, it was then moved to custom French oak barrels (94% new) for 23 months of cellaring with over 40 individual evaluations by our winemaking team. The resulting 17 barrels were bottled, without fining or filtration, on September 11th, 2019, producing only 412 cases.

Bottle: $80

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"The 2017 Merlot Reserve from Matthews checks in as 94% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc, all aged 22 months in 94% new French oak. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with medium to full-bodied notes of spring flowers, raspberries, candied orange, and spice, it's elegant, balanced, and has a light, juicy, already delicious style. It should evolve gracefully for 10-12 years or more."

92 points - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

Tasting Notes

Piercing notes of raspberry, red currant, black tea and spiced hardwood. Swirling adds sweeter black fruits, plum skin, graphite, scorched earth, minerals and a wafting red berry potpourri. The palate is dense but plush with fine tannins and excellent energy surrounding the core of dark spice-driven fruit. The wine finishes and lingers with a gorgeous red fruit lift.

Scores & Reviews

"Opening with oaky aromas and elements of dusty plum on the nose, the 2017 Reserve Merlot Columbia Valley took some spinning in the glass to tell me more. Medium to full-bodied, the wine offers rigid tannins on the mid-palate and grips the gumline, before ending with lingering flavors of bitter dark chocolate and cherry skin on the still-tight finish. The wine spent 23 months in French oak barrels, 94% new. Just under 5,000 bottles were made."
90 points - Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate