MERLOT

SPECIFICATIONS

Clone 03
5 Acres
12th Leaf

 

From the Experts

The 2012 Echo Ridge Merlot is another outstanding wine from this estate. This excellent Merlot wine opens with a bouquet of red cherry, dill, green peppercorn and green bell pepper. This has a lovely mouthfeel and yields lovely flavors of red cherry, red bell pepper, mint, and white pepper, leading to a long finish. (Best 2017-2026) – June, 2017 (OB)

 

92 points
International Wine Report,
2012 Echo Ridge Merlot

The 2013 Echo Ridge Merlot is simply delicious as it begins with bright aromatics of mocha, red bell pepper, black cherry, black tea and baking spices. This leads to ripe flavors of black tea, black cherry, black plums and red currant. This has a wonderful mouthfeel and texture which captures head winemaker Billo Naravane’s signature style. (Best 2017-2027) – June, 2017 (OB)

 

93 points
International Wine Report,
2013 Echo Ridge Merlot

This is a blend of 66% Cabernet with the rest Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This awesome red wine begins with aromatics of rose petals, red cherry, red raspberry and dried herbs. This leads to flavors of red cherry, red raspberry and teaberry with sagebrush. The length and complexity is lovely here. (Best 2017-2027) – June, 2017 (OB)

 

92 points
International Wine Report,
2012 Echo Ridge Wine ‘Three Blondes and A Boy’

This wine is a blend of 40% Cabernet 34% Cabernet Franc and 26% Merlot. The red wine opens with rich aromatics of black cherry, bleach olive, rose petals and red bell pepper with sagebrush accents. This leads to intense flavors of black tea, coffee grounds, milk chocolate and green bell pepper. This is a lovely mouthfeel and a plush texture finishing with some moderate tannins. I can see this settling a bit better after one year in the bottle. (Best 2018-2028) – June, 2017 (OB)

 

93 points
International Wine Report,
2013 Echo Ridge Wine ‘Three Blondes and A Boy’

Bright deep red. Inviting floral lift to the aromas of blackberry, licorice, cocoa powder, spices and violet. Juicy, savory, and concentrated in the mouth, with red berry and rose petal flavors complicated by earth and spice nuances. Finishes with firm tannins that call for a few years of cellaring.

 

91+ points
Steven Tanzer
2011 Three Blondes and a Boy

Crafted by Billo Naravane from Rasa Vineyards, this is Echo Ridge’s sole blend – a mix of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cab Franc and 17% Merlot – all from the estate vineyard in eastern Oregon. The blend proves to be a bit more complete than the single varietal offerings, with plum, anise, tobacco and a hint of coconut in the finish.

 

90 points
Wine Enthusiasts
2010 Three Blondes and a Boy

A step up, the 2010 In Order to Form a More Perfect Union is a decadent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc that was aged in 60% new French oak. Offering up a hedonistically bent bouquet of black currant, smoked herbs, espresso, black olive and lead pencil shavings, it bursts onto the palate with a full-bodied, thick and voluptuous texture that partially conceals sound back-end concentration and structure. Give it 2-4 years and enjoy over the following decade or longer. Drink now-2025.

 

94 points
Wine Advocate
2010 Rasa Vineyards In Order to Form a
More Perfect Union

Checking in as a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2012 In Order to Form A More Perfect Union is both a classic Washington State Bordeaux blend, as well as a classic wine from this estate. It exhibits a deep ruby, mostly opaque color to go with lots of blackcurrants, grilled toast, graphite and dried-violet aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, pure, silky and yet still savory and focused, with a light, balanced feel, good acidity, and plenty of fine tannin that show on the chocolate-laced finish, it’s a beautiful wine that can be drunk anytime over the coming 10-15 years.

 

94 points
Wine Advocate
2012 Rasa Vineyards In Order to Form a
More Perfect Union

Good bright, deep red. Red berries, cherry, cocoa powder and licorice on the scented nose. Supple, saline and balanced but youthfully backward, offering red berry and floral flavors complicated by sexy spice notes (from the Allier oak barrels?). No easy sweetness here. Finishes with building, serious tannins that will require at least a few years of cellaring.

 

92+ points
Steven Tanzer
2010 Rasa Vineyard Wines In Order to Form a
More Perfect Union
(43% cabernet sauvignon, 41% merlot and 16% cabernet franc)

The grapes in this impressive Bordeaux style blend are sourced from five different vineyards: Echo Ridge, DuBrul, Kiona, Dionysus, and Weinbau. It is comprised of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot. This Cab dominant wine opens with aromas of blackberry, anise, red cherry and dill. There are flavors of blackberry, anise, black cherry and black olive. This has lovely mouthfeel and texture with a strong mineral backbone. Like many of the Rasa ’12 releases, this is tough not to enjoy now. Best 2015-2035.

 

94 points
Steven Tanzer
2012 Rasa Vineyard Wines In Order to Form a
More Perfect Union

Named for the preamble to the Constitution, this blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 11% Petit Verdot exhibits an opaque ruby color and an intense, smoky nose of blackberries, raspberries, cherries and plums, with scents of dried roses, sandalwood, cigar wrapper, black olives, leather, and dried orange peel. The flavors, as well, are deep and intense, with fleshy fruits that are imbued with licorice, dark chocolate, French roast, and loam and gravel earth. The back reveals macerated berries, dried cherries and plums, framboise liqueur, mocha, toffee and toasty oak, all gliding into a rich, lingering, sweet-dry tannin finish. Shows depth and complexity throughout.

 

20/20 points
Rand Sealey
2012 In Order to Form a
More Perfect Union

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