93 Pts Wine & Spirits

"This energetic blend is about two- thirds Wahluke Slope merlot, with the balance cabernet and petit verdot. There's an exuberant fruit basket scent of blueberry, mulberry and plum. The succulent fruit flavors are lifted and bright, as pure as a beam of blue light, and would complement braised short ribs beautifully."-93 Points - Wine & Spirits

"The 2006 Zachary’s Ladder is 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Beautifully defined, sharp and tight. Still compact, dense, hard and young, but loaded with mixed flavors of black cherry, iron and rock. The tannins are tough and hard, the wine is firm and focused."-90 Points - Wine Enthusiast

REGION:
"The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada."

"It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy."

"The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters."

This wine was also scored 88 points by Wine Spectator and 89 points from Wine Advocate