One of the best Merlots coming out of Washington, the 2014 Merlot Northridge Vineyard shows a gorgeous spice, dried violet, cassis and graphite character, a full-bodied, seamless and elegant personality as well as thrilling purity and class. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.
- 94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Generous as it comes. Showing a pedigree of cedar, pencil lead, dark cherry and scorched earth. Deep as deep can be. Saturating and unctuous. A wine that unfolds the story that is Washington Merlot.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
2014 had an early spring and a wonderful, long summer with cool nights to help maintain great acidity in the grapes. Going into the Fall, temperatures cooled down quite a bit throughout the state, and we were able to hang the fruit for a long period of time before harvest. This combination allowed us to develop more complex flavors, while still maintaining the acidity to produce bright, focused wines.
The vineyards we work with are farmed using the most up to date sustainable practices. Northridge Vineyard: (100%) Loamy, ne sand over silica limestone, these ancient soils above the Missoula Flood plain are some of the best to grow fruit. This site is higher elevation and has cooler evenings, which creates later ripening, lots of minerality and concentration.
The original thought was to be a one wine brand, with a single minded vision to produce the best value-priced Cabernet Sauvignon in America. How do you go about this? Traditional winemaking. Natural fermentations. Barrel-aging. Plus, bottling unfiltered and unfined. In essence, making the wines in small batch winemaking integrity, but doing so on a larger scale. The wine is black. The label definitively says, “This is Cabernet Sauvignon.” With the CS, you know who made this wine: Charles Smith. There is also the single vineyard, single expression, Bordeaux varietals (ex: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) produced in very limited quantities. This is the newest chapter in the history books of Charles Smith and his wines.
Specifications
Vintage: 2014
Blend: 100% Merlot
Appellation: Wahluke Slope
Production Yield: 2.0 tons per acre
Yeast: native
100% whole berry fermentation
43 days on skins
50% new French oak barriques, 21 months barrel-aged on lees
Winery: Wines of Substance
Owner: Charles Smith
Founded: 2006
Location: Walla Wall, WA
Charles Smith is the only person to have received Winemaker of the Year distinctions by both Wine Enthusiast (2014) and Food & Wine (2009). In 2008, K Vintners was recognized by Wine & Spirits magazine as one of the “Best New Wineries of the Last Ten Years,” and as “Winery of the Year” in their annual buying guide. His wines continue to receive broad recognition from leading wine publications such as Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine & Spirits with 98 scores of 95 points and above, and 386 scores of 90 points and above.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Wines of Substance Washington Merlot
3 bottles for $79.99 $26.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $279.99 $23.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2014 Wines of Substance WA Merlot - $40 = 12.49%
I really, really love Merlot, and Wahluke Slope produces excellent wine. Half a case; I must be insane…either that, or I like to drink wine. I’m just really happy. :-}
Love me a good merlot…chappellet, shafer…
This looks like a good one, and you gotta love Charles Smith.
Anyone in the Syracuse/Buffalo area up for a split?
Hmmm… I love me some Pomerol(although cannot afford much)
I have some of the Super Substance 2013 Merlot Stoneridge Vineyard in my cellar. It is a huge, delicious, fruity wine. None of the earthy nuance I associate with classic Pomerol.
Is this wine intended to be less fruity than the 2013 Stoneridge or is Parker’s comment completely off-base?
I would love to hear from someone who knows the wine.
@Zortapa , @n3uka, It’s on the way! Looks like a 6/3/3 split, unless we get another DMVer interested by delivery date. W summer heat, I sprung for cooled, quick delivery.
Anyone in Northern Virginia interested in this, check out NOVA group to discuss split. In addition, I sadly need to put up some other precious casemates wine I’ve gotten to help fund this. Doh!
My boss, who knows good wine, and knows Walla Walla wine in particular, says these are the (Merlot) droids I’m looking for.
@PatrickKarcher Yikes, no one from Northern Virginia wants in on this? Anyone? 3 bottles? I just got the word from an expert on Washington wine, who gets fantastic deals, who is a ‘special secret customer’ all over because he drops a lot on wine (for himself and friends, but also high-end charity events), that this wine at this price, considerately delivered, cannot be beat. He told me to Do This. But I need some help!
NEO crew, checking to see if anyone might be interested in this? We have a friend in MI and can get a case. We’re only looking to keep 3 bottles, so thought I’d check the pulse on interest for a split.
I tasted in the tasting room, but I have no notes. I have a bottle in my cellar, so I guess we liked it at club prices and that matches my memory. If anyone in the Seattle area wants to split, I’d be in for 2 or 3 bottles.
I was the lucky recipient of a Lab Rat sample. The accompanying email said this would release 8/1 so I opened it with only a few hours rest (not really fair to the wine).
Restrained nose, a bit tense on the palate but puts the Sideways simperers to shame. Reminded me of a big Pomerol.
Tasted again the next day. Good nose, milk chocolate notes with hints of apple pie spice (wife’s comment --has the best palate). Much more New World style today. Can’t comment on value for money, not familiar w/Washington State fine wine prices…
JLJ
Tasting Notes
- 94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Generous as it comes. Showing a pedigree of cedar, pencil lead, dark cherry and scorched earth. Deep as deep can be. Saturating and unctuous. A wine that unfolds the story that is Washington Merlot.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
2014 had an early spring and a wonderful, long summer with cool nights to help maintain great acidity in the grapes. Going into the Fall, temperatures cooled down quite a bit throughout the state, and we were able to hang the fruit for a long period of time before harvest. This combination allowed us to develop more complex flavors, while still maintaining the acidity to produce bright, focused wines.
The vineyards we work with are farmed using the most up to date sustainable practices. Northridge Vineyard: (100%) Loamy, ne sand over silica limestone, these ancient soils above the Missoula Flood plain are some of the best to grow fruit. This site is higher elevation and has cooler evenings, which creates later ripening, lots of minerality and concentration.
The original thought was to be a one wine brand, with a single minded vision to produce the best value-priced Cabernet Sauvignon in America. How do you go about this? Traditional winemaking. Natural fermentations. Barrel-aging. Plus, bottling unfiltered and unfined. In essence, making the wines in small batch winemaking integrity, but doing so on a larger scale. The wine is black. The label definitively says, “This is Cabernet Sauvignon.” With the CS, you know who made this wine: Charles Smith. There is also the single vineyard, single expression, Bordeaux varietals (ex: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) produced in very limited quantities. This is the newest chapter in the history books of Charles Smith and his wines.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$626.88/case at Wines of Substance (including shipping)
About The Winery
Winery: Wines of Substance
Owner: Charles Smith
Founded: 2006
Location: Walla Wall, WA
Charles Smith is the only person to have received Winemaker of the Year distinctions by both Wine Enthusiast (2014) and Food & Wine (2009). In 2008, K Vintners was recognized by Wine & Spirits magazine as one of the “Best New Wineries of the Last Ten Years,” and as “Winery of the Year” in their annual buying guide. His wines continue to receive broad recognition from leading wine publications such as Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine & Spirits with 98 scores of 95 points and above, and 386 scores of 90 points and above.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, August 23rd - Monday, August 27th
Wines of Substance Washington Merlot
3 bottles for $79.99 $26.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $279.99 $23.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2014 Substance Merlot Northridge Vineyard
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2014 Wines of Substance WA Merlot - $40 = 12.49%
I really, really love Merlot, and Wahluke Slope produces excellent wine. Half a case; I must be insane…either that, or I like to drink wine. I’m just really happy. :-}
@Shrdlu Insane about Merlot! Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that!
Could be interested in a SD split.
Great get IMO !
Love me a good merlot…chappellet, shafer…
This looks like a good one, and you gotta love Charles Smith.
Anyone in the Syracuse/Buffalo area up for a split?
@FritzCat Binghamton - could meet in Cortland
Hmmm… I love me some Pomerol(although cannot afford much)
I have some of the Super Substance 2013 Merlot Stoneridge Vineyard in my cellar. It is a huge, delicious, fruity wine. None of the earthy nuance I associate with classic Pomerol.
Is this wine intended to be less fruity than the 2013 Stoneridge or is Parker’s comment completely off-base?
I would love to hear from someone who knows the wine.
@rlmanzo Hi there! We know the wine.
I would say Parker is NOT off base here at all. You’ll get mineral and earth with a side of fruit in this wine.
Would love a split near SE MI (Ypsilanti)
Hmm… I’m interested. Any dfw peeps in for a split?
@hey_zeus I’d be up for 4 bottles max but definitely interested
@vrvallejo sounds good. I’ll pull the trigger and we can figure out logistics later.
@hey_zeus would be interested in 1-2 if available.
@pjoeltyler Sounds good. I’ve pulled the trigger already. I’ll keep 6, 2 for you and 4 for @vrvallejo.
/giphy tasty-burgeoning-leech
@pjoeltyler @vrvallejo Ha, ha…
@hey_zeus @vrvallejo appreciate it!
Any Chicago Loopers or west suburbs want to split a case?
@NickSMU17 If they will ship in October I will
@NickSMU17 I’d be in to split a case.
South Florida-anyone up to split a case?
@GatorFL I’m in for 1/2 case.
@JonnyA9497 I’ll take the other half!
Anybody in the DMV interested in a 4-way on a case? I don’t usually go overboard on merlot. Ellicott City here
@kls_in_MD I’d be happy to split; 3, 4, or 6 bottles works for me. In Baltimore.
@kls_in_MD I’d be in on split. College Park here.
@kls_in_MD I’ll go ahead and pull trigger. Hopefully we get one more in on this…
@Zortapa , @n3uka, It’s on the way! Looks like a 6/3/3 split, unless we get another DMVer interested by delivery date. W summer heat, I sprung for cooled, quick delivery.
Anyone in Northern Virginia interested in this, check out NOVA group to discuss split. In addition, I sadly need to put up some other precious casemates wine I’ve gotten to help fund this. Doh!
My boss, who knows good wine, and knows Walla Walla wine in particular, says these are the (Merlot) droids I’m looking for.
@PatrickKarcher Yikes, no one from Northern Virginia wants in on this? Anyone? 3 bottles? I just got the word from an expert on Washington wine, who gets fantastic deals, who is a ‘special secret customer’ all over because he drops a lot on wine (for himself and friends, but also high-end charity events), that this wine at this price, considerately delivered, cannot be beat. He told me to Do This. But I need some help!
@PatrickKarcher yea, this is a screamer!
Hmm, the velvet devil was probably the bottle the inspired my interest in wine back in my early twenties, maybe I’ll get this to try his premium line
@mrn1 @xena67 @scott0210 @mehnyblooms @croutonollie @north316 @Boatman72 @docjavadude @pjmartin @KCountry @CroutonOllie @HopHeadB @p2002b @shrimp74 @chipgreen
NEO crew, checking to see if anyone might be interested in this? We have a friend in MI and can get a case. We’re only looking to keep 3 bottles, so thought I’d check the pulse on interest for a split.
@thinksno16
I’d be up for 2-3 bottles, thanks for asking!
@thinksno16
Thanks for the thought, but I have to pass
@thinksno16 @mrn1 @xena67 @mehnyblooms @croutonollie @north316 @Boatman72 @docjavadude @pjmartin @KCountry @CroutonOllie @HopHeadB @p2002b @shrimp74 @chipgreen That guy’s hair freaks me out and how can he not work Ohio? But I’d love to have a case, 9, 6 or 3 of this stuff. I’ll split whatever anybody wants to work up.
@thinksno16 Don’t need wine…but I’ll take 2 bottles if that works into a case split. Thanks for getting the gang together on this.
@mrn1 - 2 bottles @scott0210 - 6 bottles @chipgreen - 2 bottles
/giphy runny-solid-basin
@chipgreen @mrn1 @thinksno16 6 bottles of Me for me. Thank you.
@thinksno16 Thanks for putting this case together. Feel free to whisper me your contact info so I can arrange to get $ back in your wallet.
I tasted in the tasting room, but I have no notes. I have a bottle in my cellar, so I guess we liked it at club prices and that matches my memory. If anyone in the Seattle area wants to split, I’d be in for 2 or 3 bottles.
@ottbirdbrain I think I will pick up the case. You are welcome to take a few bottles off my hands.
/giphy thankless-absent-power
FWIW, I checked a local Washington wine store and this was selling for over $40 there.
@Twich22 I will take three bottles. Thanks!
Anyone want to split in the Buffalo area? I’m in for 1/2 case. HMU
Anyone in BHAM/ATL/NASHVILLE up for splitting a case?
@JonesIsThirsty Did you end up getting one? Count me in
@nostrom0 Not yet, but I’m down for it. Where u located? I’m in Birmingham, AL
@JonesIsThirsty Um, if you wanted in on this vino you needed to buy before midnight. The prince turned into a popcorn.
I was the lucky recipient of a Lab Rat sample. The accompanying email said this would release 8/1 so I opened it with only a few hours rest (not really fair to the wine).
Restrained nose, a bit tense on the palate but puts the Sideways simperers to shame. Reminded me of a big Pomerol.
Tasted again the next day. Good nose, milk chocolate notes with hints of apple pie spice (wife’s comment --has the best palate). Much more New World style today. Can’t comment on value for money, not familiar w/Washington State fine wine prices…
JLJ
Any in the Michigan SouthEast side interested in splitting a case? Near Rochester/Troy/Royal Oak
@Coleman459 I’m in for a case right now…Ypsilanti…if interested.
@kasandrae you bought a case and would like to share? If so I would take some off your hands, just keep me posted
@Coleman459 I did, and I will…
/giphy enlightened-curious-oxygen
