Mark Ryan Winery Little Sister Merlot, Columbia Valley, 750ml

Mark Ryan Winery's Little Sister is a reserve-quality Merlot from Washington State's Columbia Valley, introduced in 2015 as a small-production, high-scoring expression of the best the region has to offer. The wine has earned a devoted following for its concentration, balance, and age-worthiness, and regularly sells out shortly after release.

The fruit for Little Sister is sourced from two premium vineyard sites: Quintessence on Red Mountain and Red Willow in the upper Yakima Valley. The Quintessence block, planted in 2011 on a south-facing slope, grows in soils of fractured basalt and gravel with a light dusting of fine loess — conditions that yield intensely concentrated, pure fruit. The Red Willow block, planted in 1993 on a steep westerly-facing slope, grows in 16–20 inches of gravel mixed with calcareous clay over volcanic pumice, imparting savory aromatics and complex depth. A small addition of Petit Verdot from Quintessence contributes subtle floral and spice notes to the finished blend.

Mark Ryan Winery was founded in 1999 and is dedicated to producing limited-production wines from Washington State's finest vineyard sites, with a particular focus on Red Mountain fruit. The winery's style emphasizes ripe, structured wines that balance power with finesse and are crafted to reward cellaring.