Northstar, Walla Walla Valley (Washington) Merlot 2008

 Merlot is Washington’s superstar, but winemaker David ‘Merf’ Merfeld, has taken this wine to a higher level.  It’s not just about the state’s intensely concentrated, ripe blackberry, blueberry fruit with amazingly fresh acidity.  This Merlot also has savory, sandalwood aromas and flavors that thread their way through the wine, so enticing and mysterious.  It’s tightly structured with ripe tannins.   It drinks well now, but open and splash it around a bit at least a couple of hours in advance to get the full effect.