Canoe Ridge The Expedition Merlot

Canoe Ridge The Expedition Merlot is a Washington State red wine from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, bottled at approximately 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Rated 88/100 by Wine Enthusiast on the 2021 vintage, this Merlot-dominant blend draws from some of the Columbia Valley's most respected vineyard sites and delivers a ripe, structured profile that punches above its weight class.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~13.5%  |  Origin: Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington  |  Varietal Blend: 86% Merlot, 14% Syrah  |  Producer: Canoe Ridge

Production & Heritage

Canoe Ridge takes its name from a ridgetop formation along the Columbia River that Lewis and Clark noted in their 1805 expedition journals — they recorded that it resembled an overturned canoe. The Expedition bottling sources fruit from three Horse Heaven Hills vineyards: Canoe Ridge Vineyard, Wallula Vineyard, and Alder Ridge, blending 86% Merlot with 14% Syrah for added depth and spice. Production runs roughly 12,500 cases per vintage, yielding a dry wine with 6 g/L total acidity and no residual sugar — a profile built for food-friendly structure rather than sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe dark berries — boysenberry and blueberry dominate — followed by fresh raspberry and a dusting of baking spice. Underneath, earthy notes of tilled soil and a faint ashy minerality add complexity.

Taste: On the palate, black currant and blueberry flavors arrive with generous concentration, moving into a mid-palate layered with chocolate and cinnamon. The Syrah component makes itself known through a peppery thread that adds structure without overwhelming the fruit. Chewy, medium-grained tannins give the wine a full, tactile feel from entry through the peak.

Finish: The finish is moderately long and flavorful, with lingering dark berry, cocoa, and herbal undertones. Tannins resolve smoothly, leaving a clean, dry close.

How to Drink The Expedition Merlot

This wine drinks well at cellar temperature (60–65°F) with 20–30 minutes of air to let the tannins soften and the aromatics fully open. A standard Bordeaux-shaped glass concentrates the dark fruit and spice. For cocktail-adjacent uses, The Expedition Merlot works in a Red Wine Sangria where its boysenberry intensity stands up to citrus and brandy, a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) as a casual warm-weather drink where its bold fruit holds its own, and a Mulled Wine where the existing cinnamon and spice notes amplify the warm-spice infusion naturally.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners with grilled meats or pasta — a reliable, well-priced daily pour
• Introducing someone to Washington State Merlot as a region worth exploring
• Stocking a mixed wine case for entertaining, thanks to its crowd-friendly profile
• Gifting a wine drinker who appreciates Columbia Valley reds but hasn't yet explored Horse Heaven Hills

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Expedition Merlot taste like? It delivers concentrated dark berry and black currant flavors with layers of chocolate, cinnamon, and peppery spice from its 14% Syrah component. Chewy tannins give it a medium-to-full body with a clean, dry finish.

How does The Expedition Merlot compare to Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot? Both are widely available Washington State Merlots at similar price points, but The Expedition sources exclusively from Horse Heaven Hills vineyards and blends in Syrah for additional spice and structure. Chateau Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley Merlot tends toward a softer, more approachable style with plum-forward fruit.

Is The Expedition Merlot good for sipping on its own? Yes — its ripe fruit, balanced acidity, and moderate tannins make it an easy standalone pour, especially with 20–30 minutes of aeration to let the aromatics develop fully.

Where is The Expedition Merlot made? It is produced by Canoe Ridge from vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA within Washington's Columbia Valley, drawing fruit from Canoe Ridge Vineyard, Wallula Vineyard, and Alder Ridge.

What foods pair well with The Expedition Merlot? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's earthy, spiced character. Braised short ribs match its chewy tannins and dark fruit weight. Aged cheddar or Gouda echo the cocoa and berry notes. Mushroom risotto highlights the underlying earthiness. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the wine's chocolate mid-palate without clashing with its dry finish.

What sizes does The Expedition Merlot come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is The Expedition Merlot worth the price? The Expedition positions as an entry-level to mid-range Washington Merlot, and its Horse Heaven Hills sourcing, multi-vineyard blend, and consistent critical recognition — including an 88-point Wine Enthusiast rating — place it among the stronger values in its tier.

Why The Expedition Merlot?

Horse Heaven Hills sits in a warm, arid corridor along the Columbia River where consistent sunshine and wind stress produce Merlot with deeper concentration than many Columbia Valley bottlings. The Expedition's three-vineyard sourcing — Canoe Ridge, Wallula, and Alder Ridge — gives the winemaking team a broader palette of fruit character to blend from, and the 14% Syrah addition is a deliberate choice that adds a spice backbone uncommon in straight Merlot at this production level. With steady critical recognition including gold and silver medals at TEXSOM and Cascadia, plus reliable Wine Enthusiast scores in the high 80s, this is a Washington Merlot that consistently delivers more complexity than its price tier suggests.