Gravel Bar, Red Mountain (Columbia Valley, Washington) Merlot 2021

 Known for producing powerful and rich fruit-driven wines, Red Mountain is one of my favorite AVAs in Washington.  Gravel Bar’s name is a nod to the historical glacial flooding that delivered topsoil, rocks, and other debris across much of Washington and Oregon.   Established in 1985, Gravel Bar has been tirelessly producing wines from around the region with a goal of making wines that are of high quality, representative of the region, and affordable.  Winemaker Joshua Maloney hit all three of those marks with his Red Mountain-sourced Merlot.  This wine’s big red and black fruit power is supported by vanilla, clove, cocoa, and sweet tobacco notes.  Its versatility makes for easy pairing with options ranging from pepperoni pizza to venison ragu.  Even better, an under-$25 price tag puts it in my Washington hidden gem category, doubly so for a Red Mountain wine.