The purple-colored 2004 Merlot Klipsun Vineyard offers up an enticing nose of wood smoke, spice box, damp earth, black cherry, and black currant. Medium to full-bodied, on the palate it exhibits a smooth texture, excellent depth and grip, plenty of savory fruit, and some incipient complexity. It demands 4-6 years of cellaring and will offer peak drinking from 2013 to 2024. Part-owner/winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla appears to be on top of her game.Tel. (509) 522-9463

Dark, dense and lush with rock, cracked pepper, Bing cherries, streaks of spice and mocha, this nicely aged and softened Merlot is full and open. The fruit is round and generous, the tannins polished, and the flavors wrapped in delicious baking spices. ——P.G.(12/1/2009)—— 91