The Melting Teapot

If you are a twitter user, tomorrow night you’ll likely notice many tweets about Washington State merlot.  On Thursday, March 24, from 8-10pm PT, people will be sipping merlot from Washington and tweeting about it.

A rather large-scale event is taking place, with some wineries and wine shops offering special sale prices on merlots and others even hosting twitter tasting parties. You can find more details at DRINKnectar, or watch this video they prepared:

The wine regions of Washington produce sophisticated merlots, with complex flavors and a depth of tannin and acid that lends well to aging.  There are plenty of drink-me-now merlots to be found, but with even a few years on the bottle the wines begin to sing.  Merlot can be found as a single varietal wine, and it is often used to provide depth and character to beautiful red blends.

I’m not a twitterer, but I’ll be following the event online and raising a glass in honor of all of those participating.

What Merlot Will Cindy Sip?

Two years ago I went on a quest to find my personal favorite Washington merlot.  After several months of trying every merlot I could (wineries, wine shop tastings, parties, and more), I discovered a few things about my own palate as well as about Washington's varying styles of merlot.  In particular, I wanted less of the smoky campfire, heavy-handed oak, and more of that deep and intricate grape.

There were several I enjoyed, usually from grapes in the Red Mountain or Walla Walla AVAs.  Here’s the one that has been at the top of my list of personal favorites: Dunham Cellars Merlot Lewis Valley Vineyard (Columbia Valley).

http://www.dunhamcellars.com/

It is a fabulous merlot, and it had better be for the big price (around $60, lower if you’re in the wine club or stumble upon a good sale).  I don’t drink it often, preferring to save the few bottles we have for special occasions.

After an hour or two in the decanter, the wine really opens up and gushes with big, dark fruit.  It is quite easy to sip, yet there are enough tannins and acid to keep it from being overly soft. The aroma and flavor of the wine is filled with dark cherry, blackberries, and chocolate. That classic wild bramble of Washington state makes an appearance, and there is an occasional whiff of cherry blossom on the nose.

The winemaker, Eric Dunham, has done a great job of allowing his lush fruit to shine.  Yes, there are aspects of oak to this merlot – a hint of vanilla and some caramel.  However, the grapes are not overwhelmed by the oak, and there is no burnt wood or campfire aspect to the wine.

I think tomorrow will be a special enough occasion to open one of my cherished bottles of this merlot. Heck, I may even actually get a twitter account!