The medium to dark ruby-colored 1999 Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard has blackberry and fresh herb aromas. It is medium to full-bodied, and coats the palate with herbal, jammy, dark fruit flavors and highly present yet ripe tannin. This concentrated wine should be at its best between 2003 and 2008. Tel. (509) 525-0940

The nose suggests a wine of breeding, elegance and depth, with ripe, blueberry fruit blended with layers of toast, nuts, caramel and coffee. This is firmer than the other L'Ecole Merlots, and it shows streaks of earth and mineral, along with tight tannins that suggest long-term agind potential, Give it plenty of breathing time or age 6-8 years.——P.G.(12/31/2001)—— 92

Anyone that doubts that Merlot is capable of producing a big, lush, seductive and densely flavored wine should try this exceptional bottle from one of Washington's premier red wine producers. "It's the Jayne Mansfield of Washington reds," as one friend described it. A fine, crowd-pleasing wine that shows jammy fruit matched to thick tannins and toasty, coffee-flavored oak.——P.G.(12/31/2001)—— 91