J. Bookwalter Readers Merlot

Tasting notes & discussion 29

Typically $28/bottle from J. Bookwalter Winery
Vintage 2015, received 93 Points from James Suckling and Wine Spectator
Alcohol content 14.9%, pH 3.85, TA 5.1 g/L, RS 1 g/L
Sold by J. Bookwalter Winery, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About J. Bookwalter Winery
One of Washington’s oldest wineries, J. Bookwalter was first established in 1982, a few years after Jerry Bookwalter returned from farming the San Joaquin Valley. Over the course of six years, from 1976-1982, he oversaw the creation of three iconic vineyards (Sagemoor, Bacchus, and Dionysus) and eventually managed the Conner Lee Vineyard, making it the largest source of grapes for the burgeoning winery. In 2014, Caleb Foster became head winemaker and their tasting room in Richland was named one of the best tasting rooms in the US by Sunset magazine.

J. Bookwalter Whitman

TASTING NOTES:
“Blending Conner Lee Vineyard’s 1992 old block Merlot and Dionysus Vineyards’ block 15 Merlot combines two super character vineyards. Elephant Mountain Vineyard’s Cabernet bring spice and complexity to the blend. This powerful wine offers fragrant cherries and chocolate with rich marrionberry flavors in this delicious easy drinking style.” (90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon)

TANGENTIALLY RELATED FACT to help make conversation over this wine:
Walt Whitman was a humanist poet and writer planted firmly in the 1800’s. Probably one of the most well known and respected American poets from the time period. His book of poetry, Leaves of Grass, caused somewhat of a stir at the time, one reader going so far as to call him “a pretentious ass.” Pretty blunt. Also wrote a short guide titled Manly Health and Training in 1958. Nothing crazy to it, the title just amuses me.

DRINK IT FROM:
Standard red glass.

OR (really-going-with-the-theme option):
From a standard red glass with your coffee table copy of Franklin Evans; or The Inebriate by Whitman turned upside down. Out of sight, out of mind.

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