The 2005 Merlot has 6% Cabernet Franc added to the blend. Purple colored and slightly muted aromatically, with coaxing, notes of spice box, red currants, and black cherry emerge. On the palate the wine is firm, with light tannin and s Woodward Canyon, founded in 1981 by Rick Small, remains one of Washington’s benchmarks. Over the years, the winery has had peaks and valleys but the trend-line has always been in an upward direction. There is something to be said for continuity. Tel. (509) 525-4129; www.woodwardcanyon.com

Still young and tasting somewhat like a barrel sample, it has some fermentation flavors of ripe banana, chewy tannins, and a core of wood, earth and black cherry. It still needs to be softened up a bit; it has some hard, chewy edges, and is definitely a wine that should be decanted. Retasted on the second day it’s still chewy and tight.——P.G.(12/1/2007)—— 88