Made with 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Merlot offers aromas of savory herbs, sage and thyme before a rustic and juicy element of red cherries, dusty plum skin and redcurrants sway out of the glass. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is focused and precise with a plump and subtly spiced finish. Give it a try.

Rounded out with the addition of 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Merlot opens with a nose of black cherry, dusty plum and subtle mocha tones. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is lively with a pleasing mineral tension and shows a delightfully framed structure of uplifting tannins, ending with a food-friendly finish. I recommend a quick decanting to open up the nose and prime the wine.

The 2016 Columbia Valley Merlot shows good quality on the nose, with notes of fruit, dusty and soft florals and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, the wine has an elegant textural appeal that blossoms into a focused expression with balanced acidity and tannins. The finish is grippy and spicy, showing a food-friendly wine that has good tension and will age beautifully. This should deliver a solid expression over the next decade and a half and will be well worth the investment. Just 550 cases produced

Somewhat simple and one-dimensional, the 2015 Columbia Valley Merlot is a juicy, medium-bodied wine with gently chewy tannins and aromas and flavors of dark fruits.

Notes of plums, chocolate, toasted bread and ample spice notes all emerge from the 2014 Columbia Valley Merlot, and it's nicely concentrated, rounded and beautifully layered on the palate. It's already hard to resist, but I suspect will drink nicely for 7-8 years. The blend of the 2014 is 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon.