2016 Mark Ryan Little Sister Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I just relaxed today, watched a movie and am getting ready for a mellow Sunday dinner, and since I read about a Washington Merlot Challenge on Twitter, I've decided to get started tonight.  As most of you know, I'm a big fan of Merlot, despite the idiocy of Hollywood movies, so it wasn't exactly an arm twister to get me on board the Merlot challenge train!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I got from a wine club shipment a little over two years ago (my how time flies!), the 2016 Mark Ryan Little Sister Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the Phinney Hill and Red Willow Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass, classic for the varietal.  The nose is an earthy rush of leather, charcoal and graphite with just a hint of violet and a bit of raspberry jam over the top.  The taste is a cool bit of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and a bit of currant that transitions to some notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The wine is a bit more tannic than a typical Merlot, which is expressive of Washington state, creating a wonderfully smooth and very dry finish than lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely expression of the high quality Merlot that's produced in the Columbia Valley.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of casual weekday or weekend dishes, from barbecue and pizza to steaks and pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some simple beef tacos topped with all the good stuff.  Cheers!