The 2007 Merlot Horse Heaven Hills saw a greater percentage of new oak. Purple-colored, it offers up a nose of cedar, tobacco, spice box, black currant, and blackberry. Tannic on the palate and slightly gritty in the finish, it might round out with another 2-3 years of bottle age but how many people are going to cellar a $15 bottle of Merlot? Columbia Crest, part of the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, is Washington’s largest winery. It produces mammoth amounts of wine (2,000,000+ cases) at a remarkably high level of quality. A visit to the cellars reveals brilliant organization, high morale, and a sense of personal involvement by the staff that undoubtedly adds value to the finished wine. Tel. (509) 875-2061; www.columbia-crest.com