A Vertical Journey of Red Mountain Merlot
- Shae Frichette
- 12 hours ago
- 6 min read
"There’s something truly special about pouring six vintages of Red Mountain Merlot side by side and watching how each year and time in the cellar shape the wine. To me, these vertical tastings are like a conversation across years. They share a story of climate, texture, fruit, and persistence." - Greg Frichette, Winemaker | Frichette Winery
Here’s a closer look at each vintage in our vertical of 2017 through 2022 Red Mountain Merlot and what each one brings to the glass. These wines are included in the limited Six Year Vertical Merlot Collection.
2017
Vintage backdrop: The 2017 vintage began with a cool, wet winter and a cool spring, putting bud break behind historical averages. Bloom arrived later than usual. Early summer temperatures were right around average then July and August brought above-average warmth, giving the season slightly higher heat accumulation than you might expect from such a cool start. Even so, harvest started on schedule, but as September moved into its second half, the weather cooled significantly. That slow finish gave the grapes luxurious hang time without pushing sugars too high, stretching the season. The result? Wines with slightly lower sugars, lively acids, and beautiful balance, proof that patience in the vineyard can reward us in the glass.
Tasting impression: The 2017 exhibits notes of red and black cherry, plum, and baking spice. Tannins are supple. Over time, the wine has begun to soften into more integrated layers of fruit, a lovely illustration of Merlot’s graceful aging path from Red Mountain.
2018
Vintage backdrop: The 2018 vintage was all about balance and timing. A cool April slowed bud break, only to be followed by one of the warmest Mays on record, which pushed bloom along quickly. June cooled things down, giving the vines a bit of a breather, before July and August brought plenty of warmth. September then cooled off, creating near-perfect conditions for the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
October offered warm days, keeping sugars climbing, while the cooler nights preserved vibrant acidity. The result was a long, graceful season that gave us wines with slightly elevated sugar and acid that were higher than expected for a warm vintage, a true example of elegance and structure coming from careful timing in the vineyard.
Tasting impression: This vintage opens with juicy red plum, cranberry, and light herb. The palate is lively, with gentle minerality and oak. The 2018 is showing signs of balance between fruit brightness and structure.
2019
Vintage backdrop: The 2019 growing season kept us on our toes. Winter lingered a little longer than usual, with snow still blanketing the vineyard well into March. That extra moisture meant stronger canopy growth and a slower start to the season with crews not being able to access the vines to prune until snow melt. Bud break and bloom took their time. When summer arrived, it brought more balance than heat, with mild temperatures and no dramatic spikes.
As we moved into fall, a light frost at the end of September reminded us that Mother Nature runs the show. A few weeks later, larger frosts swept across the valley and we worked quickly to bring in the remainder of our fruit. Overall yields were a bit lighter than in previous years, but the fruit was beautifully concentrated and full of promise.
The cooler season gave us grapes with bright acidity, lower sugar levels, and an elegance that stands out. 2019 challenged us, but it also rewarded us with wines that truly reflect patience, care, and the beauty of a more measured growing season on Red Mountain.
Tasting impression: The 2019 captures black cherry and boysenberry plus minerality and herbs. Tannins are pronounced, suggesting more cellar life ahead. The finish is persistent, edged by fine cocoa and soft earth tones.
2020
Vintage backdrop: The 2020 growing season brought plenty of warmth to Washington, along with one of the smallest crops we’ve seen in recent years. Bud break arrived right on schedule in mid April, and summer rolled in with its usual rhythm with mostly even temperatures with a few classic Red Mountain heat spikes in late July and early August.
September brought an early heat wave had us picking fast and focused, followed by a stretch of wildfire smoke that hung over the valley and brought things to a pause for a few days. That smoky blanket slowed sugar accumulation and stretched harvest just a little. Thankfully, we detected no impact on quality.
October stayed warm and we thankfully picked all our fruit and missed a hard freeze on the 25th. Yields were lighter because of a few factors including 2019’s big crop, some untimely freezes, and tricky bloom weather, however the smaller berries delivered impressive concentration and deep color.
Even with challenges, 2020 gave us wines that are bold, structured, and full of character, proof that sometimes a smaller crop leads to something truly special in the glass.
Tasting impression: The 2020 is lush and bold. It leans into dark plum, mocha, and graphite. The texture is plush, with round tannins that still retain grip. This is a vintage built for enjoyment now but with the structure to evolve.
2021
Vintage backdrop: The 2021 growing season in Washington was all about heat and it made its mark. Late June brought a record-shattering heat event that tested the vines. The vineyards weathered the heat well, but the intense temperatures caused a shrink in berry size.
The warmth continued through the season, making 2021 one of the hottest vintages on record. Veraison came in mid July, right on pace with recent years.
September and October brought cooler temperatures, which gave us extended hang time. While the crop was small, the quality more than made up for it. Sugar levels were elevated, yet acids held beautifully, creating grapes that promised wines full of balance, intensity, and character.
Tasting impression: The 2021 Merlot shows ripe cherry, blackberry compote, and leather. The tannin structure is assertive and concentrated.
2022
Vintage backdrop: The 2022 growing season was a year of contrasts and surprises. It began with a cool, wet spring, putting plenty of moisture into the vineyard soils. Bud break came in April and cool weather lingered through bloom pushing the season a few weeks behind what we’d seen in recent years.
Summer was hot, but brief, giving the vines just enough warmth to catch up. Then October arrived and delivered near perfect conditions, with temperatures consistently well above average, letting the grapes ripen beautifully and finish the season with grace. By harvest, the crop was generous, thanks to larger berries and clusters. 2022 reminded us that patience, timing, and a little grace from Mother Nature can come together to create something truly special in the vineyard.
Tasting impression: The 2022 shows a polished, focused profile of ripe raspberry, strawberry and mocha. Silky tannins and lively acid. This vintage promises to settle more elegantly and expressive over the next few years.
Reflections from the Vertical
Tasting this Merlot vertical is a reminder of both the power and poetry of Red Mountain. Each vintage tells its own story of seasons that challenged, rewarded, and shaped the grapes. As the wines move from 2017 toward 2022, there’s a shift from more elegant fruit character to more youthful, lifted fruit. Cellar aging allows flavors to soften and harmonize and also bring forward more subtle secondary notes that weren’t apparent in the wine’s youth. All six vintages show promising longevity. Vertical tastings, as the Washington Wine Commission shows, lets us explore how each vintage reflects place and time.
Pairing notes & tasting tips
Serving: For full expression, open the older bottles an hour ahead. Allow the younger ones to breathe for 30 minutes or give a good swirl in the glass before drinking.
Pairings: Merlots pair beautifully with richer dishes like beef short ribs, porcini risotto, and aged cheeses like Gouda, as well as roasted lamb, wild mushrooms, and grilled vegetables.
Cellaring horizon: 2030–2035 as a sweet spot for most in this vertical although the 2021 and 2022 have potential to stretch further.
"This vertical reminds me again why Red Mountain is so magical for Merlot: expressive fruit, texture, and the ability to show diversity across vintages. I hope this tasting inspires you to find your own appreciation for vintage variety and explore Frichette verticals in the future." - Greg Frichette
Learn more about our vertical tasting experiences at FrichetteWinery.com and purchase one of the limited Merlot Vertical Collections to store and enjoy.
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