Merlot

Walla Walla AVA - Walla Walla - Washington

2017: The 2017 vintage started out with a cool, wet winter and cool spring. As a result, bud break was behind historical averages and significantly behind the most recent warm vintages of 2013-2015. Bloom was also slightly delayed. The early part of summer saw average temperatures in the Columbia Valley followed by above average temperatures in July and August. As a result, heat accumulation was a bit above average for the season, despite the cool start. Harvest began right on schedule but in the second half of September, temperatures cooled considerably, which delayed ripening. This allowed for luxurious amounts of hang time without the threat of increased sugar accumulation, stretching harvest into the first week of November. As a result, winemakers report that sugars were slightly down in 2017 whereas acid levels were up.- WashingtonWine.org