91 Points - Wine Enthusiast
2019 Canvasback Red Mountain Merlot
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Home to some of Washington State’s most celebrated vineyards, Red Mountain is renowned for Merlot. With ideal
southwest-facing slopes and significant day and nighttime temperature swings, this small but highly prized area in Eastern Washington produces exceptional wines. Named for the Canvasback duck, which is native to the Pacific Flyway, this wine was crafted from grapes cultivated by some of Red Mountain’s finest growers.With Canvasback, our aim is to express and develop the depth, structure and sophistication that define wines from this young and exciting appellation.
Wine Enthusiast
91
James Suckling
91
Wine Advocate
94
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Composition: 99% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker Notes
Leading with pure, precise aromas of wild strawberry, Bing cherry, ripe raspberry and just a touch of brambly fruit, this wine is accented with hints of hard candy, cardamom, clove and bay leaf. Red fruits dominate the entry, leading to a flood of black raspberry and kirsch sensations that saturate the palate in mouth-filling waves. A bold Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon-like depth and weight, its dusty, fine-grained tannins carry the flavors to a bright, juicy finish with hints of baker’s cocoa and mulling spices.
Production
Heavy winter snowfall in 2019 led to well-irrigated soils and a late budbreak. The relatively cool weather continued throughout spring and summer with temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s, and only a few days over 100º F. This allowed for beautiful flavor development balanced by ideal acid retention, producing elegant and age-worthy wines with lovely energy and character, supple tannins and bright, juicy flavors.
Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Vintage
2019
Varietal
Merlot
Appellation
Red Mountain
Acid
0.54 g/100 ml
pH
3.74
Aging
Aged 16 months in 100% Frech oak 67% new oak, 33% neutral oak
Alcohol %
14.5
Wine Enthusiast
91
James Suckling
91
Wine Advocate
94