Woodward Canyon Columbia Valley Merlot 2007
Woodward Canyon
The wine shows extraordinary complexity yet is softer and more elegant than several more recent vintages. Blending of fruit from such fantastic vineyards has produced a complex flavor profile of generous cherry, oak, spice and coffee; notes of toasted coconut and vanilla in the aroma. Rich fruit and fully mature tannins give this wine softness for drinking now yet with the proportion and structure to age well for six years or more.
Wine Enthusiast
True to the dense, muscular style of Woodward Canyon’s Merlots, this elevates the complexity in a near-perfect vintage. Deep and textural, it packs together concentrated red fruits, preserves and cassis. At first it shows a little heat from the 15% alcohol, but as it breathes open over hours (and even days) the primary fruit gives way to subtle veins of olive, earth, coffee and toast.
Score: 95.
—Paul Gregutt,
December
31,
2010.
Wine Advocate
Woodward Canyon’s red wines begin with the 2007 Merlot. It is a multi-regional blend containing 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. The majority of the fruit was sourced from the excellent Weinbau Vineyard. Medium crimson-colored it displays an excellent bouquet of balsam wood, Asian spices, violets, cassis, and black cherry with a hint of coffee/mocha in the background. Full-bodied and generous on the palate, it has plenty of ripe fruit, red and black fruit flavors, spice notes, and well-integrated tannin. It has the structure to evolve for 1-2 years but can be enjoyed now and over the next 6-8.
Woodward Canyon, one of the pioneer producers of Walla Walla (there were 4 wineries here when I visited in 1990; now there are over 125), remains under the direction of Rick Smalls and continues to be a benchmark against which all others aspiring to the top must be compared.
Score: 90.
—Jay Miller,
August
2010.
All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
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