At a glance

Producer

Wapato Point Cellars

Region

Lake Chelan, Washington, USA

Grape variety

Merlot

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Smooth

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$25-40 (current secondary market estimate for well-cellared bottles)

Tasting profile

Notes of dried red fruit, subtle herbal character, soft tannins, earth, some oxidative tertiary development

Evolution: Started with bright cherry and plum, evolved into fig, leather, and dried leaves; tannins now very silky

At peak: Best enjoyed within its first decade; likely more for educational tasting now

Structure

Acidity

Medium to low due to age

Tannins

Soft, rounded, integrated

Alcohol

13.5-14% (typical for WA Merlot)

Aging potential

Modest—Washington Merlot of this tier typically maxes at 10-15 years in good cellaring conditions

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2009 to 2011

Optimal window

2007 to 2012

Current status

Approaching end of maturity; will show tertiary character

Current condition

Fully mature, fading; expect development of dried fruit and earth if well stored; may be past prime at this stage

2004 was a solid vintage in Washington, but Merlot from this region and producer is designed for earlier drinking. Most bottles are past peak, especially if not cellared perfectly; expect fully tertiary maturity.

Food pairing

Roast poultry, mushroom-heavy dishes, soft cheeses; avoid heavily spiced fare to not overwhelm subtlety.

Serving

Decant

Not required

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 5/10

Small family-owned producer using standard regional practices in 2004; no documentation of advanced energy, water, or alternative packaging initiatives at the time. Modern vintages may have improved, but 2004 had no official sustainability programming.

Wapato Point Cellars was a traditional local producer in 2004 with generally responsible but not formally certified sustainable practices. The lack of third-party environmental certification, coupled with standard packaging and possible US-wide distribution, results in a moderate sustainability profile compared to today's higher bar for environmental performance.