The winter was unusual dry and mild and gentle. Bloom and set proceeded right on schedule and the vines went into the summer weeks carrying a good-sized crop. A pattern of warm days, cool nights throughout most of September brought the fruit to full maturity.
This was the first vintage in which Washington Merlots began to demonstrate a ripe, juicy, fleshy character while maintaining lively acidity, a style that winemakers focused on in vintages to follow.