Tasted not long before its late summer bottling, Millers’ 2010 Merlot evokes chocolate-covered cherries in its soft, broad, and slightly dull palate impression, but there is enough primary juiciness as well as interesting hints of toasted nuts and pencil lead for the finish to satisfy. I suspect this will be best enjoyed in its first 12-18 months. Airfield estates – named for a former military base on its site – is an example of a Washington winery that opened with the intention of being entirely an estate-bottler, showcasing fruit from a location farmed by Mike Miller since 1968 (“when nobody but Canadian home winemakers wanted Washington grapes,” he’s not the first to tell me, “but later, for a long time, we were able to sell most of our crop to Ste Michelle”). An interesting recent innovation is use of reflective tarp on the vineyard surface. Son Marcus – originally trained in business – has interned internationally and since 2005 taken over the cellar. The Millers make 27 different wines (and manage to keep coming up with clever aeronautic allusions for labeling them), choosing to emphasize in our tasting 2010 vintage reds that have been bottled since. While most of the wines I tasted on this occasion could be at least marginally recommended, herbaceous, bitter, and drying elements were sometime problematic. This is an enthusiastic, open, and articulate father-son team, so one can anticipate improvements. Tel. (509) 786-7401

A bit tannic, but the ripe blueberry and herb flavors sing through the grip, and persist nicely on the balanced finish. Best from 2012 through 2015. 852 cases made.??–HS??Region: Washington / Yakima Valley Select to Add

The 2008 Merlot (100%) spent 20 months in 40% new French oak before bottling without fining or filtration. Aromas of cocoa, chocolate, tobacco, cassis, and black cherry lead to a medium to full-bodied ripe wine with good grip, excellent volume, layered fruit, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. It will deliver prime drinking from 2012 to 2020. Airfield Estates is the winery of the Miller family, father and son. Long-time grape growers, when son Marcus became interested in wine and received the requisite training, it became time to divert some of the estate grapes into their own label. The first vintage was in 2005. www.airfieldwines.com

Checking in at a whopping 15.8% alcohol, this take-no-prisoners Merlot marries Port-like fruit to ripe, rich, massive tannins and a chocolaty wash of oak. There is enough acid to hold it all together—in fact, it may profit from another year or two in bottle. But the sheer weight of the alcohol makes it a wine to sip rather than guzzle.——P.G.(7/1/2011)—— 86

Lively and jazzy, a focused style with a flinty edge to the currant and berry flavors, finishing with velvety texture. Drink now through 2012. 331 cases made.??–HS??Region: Washington / Yakima Valley Select to Add