Review of WA Wines, January 2010
The Merlot offers a rich, smoky raspberry and currant nose with lavender scents. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a textbook 100% Walla Walla Cabernet.
2006 Estate Merlot
I heard good things about this winery from others, so I drove down to Stateline Road to taste with winemaker Mike Berghan. This offers a rich, smoky raspberry and currant nose with lavender scents. It is quite chewy and fleshy for Merlot, with well-extracted red fruits, accented by shadings of cocoa powder, anise and dried berries. Technically, this isn’t a particularly complex Merlot, but it’s quite enjoyable and well priced. Hence, 18.5/20 points.
2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a textbook 100% Walla Walla Cabernet. Rich raspberry, cassis and cherry nose with tobacco, lavender and rubbed sage scents. The flavors are full, generous and well extracted, with a distinctive backdrop of licorice, earthy minerals, baker’s chocolate and a bit of leather. The wine pulls through nicely on the finish with a slightly nutty dried fruit and chewy tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.
2007 Stateline Red
Composed of 50% Cabernet and 50% Merlot, this is a super buy. It was aged in neutral barrels, so it is the fruit that shows forth. Attractive raspberry and plum nose. Full flavored and chewy on the palate with licorice and cocoa undertones and a juicy finish. 18/20 points.