Under the steady guidance and stewardship of owners Rob and Brenda Mercer, Mercer Estates Winery has become a formidable force in recent years, not just in terms of wine production growth, but in the areas of vineyard development, sustainable farming practices, and perhaps most important to consumers, high quality wines at exceptional value.
The Mercer’s family has been farming in the Horse Heaven Hills since 1886 and their roots in the wine industry date back to 1972 when patriarch Don and Linda Mercer become the first to plant wine grapes in the Horse Heaven Hills.
Rob and Brenda Mercer founded the Prosser-based winery in 2005, and today it includes three main tiers of estate-grown wines: Mercer Estates, Mercer Canyons and Mercer Estates Reserve. Early in 2017, Mercer Estates opened a satellite tasting room in Seattle’s hip, trendy neighborhood of Georgetown.
Below are seven releases we recently reviewed. You can find many of these wines on store shelves at major retail outlets. For a fuller experience, we recommended visiting one of Mercer Estates’ tasting rooms in Seattle or Prosser:
Seattle Tasting Room
Tasting fee is $10, refundable with bottle purchase
6235 Airport Way South, Suite 102, Seattle
Open Wed-Sun, 11am-7pm
Ph: (206) 717-7387
Prosser Tasting Room & Winery
Tasting fee is $10, refundable with bottle purchase
3100 Lee Rd, Prosser
Open Wed-Sun, 11am-5pm
Ph: (509) 786-2097
7 recommended releases from Mercer Wine Estates
Mercer Estates 2015 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon $19.99
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Lush and velvety, with firm tannins and immaculately balanced acidity, a trademark of premium Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Horse Heaven Hills. Bold aromas of blue and black fruit and tobacco lead to concentrated flavors of macerated blackberry and blueberry layered with cocoa powder, roasted coffee bean, sage and bay leaf. Gripping, refined tannins extend the finish with tea leaf and spice notes.
Mercer Estates 2015 Horse Heaven Hills Malbec, $19.99
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Gorgeously structured, this version stays tightly focused from front to finish. Generous aromas of violet, crushed rock and herbs echo on the palate joined with flavors of blackberry, red plum, currant and espresso with notes of anise and sage. Well-integrated tannins add solid grip to the lengthy finish.
Mercer Estates 2015 Horse Heaven Hills Sharp Sisters, $19.99
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Flawless structure and outstanding balance are the cornerstones of this perennial favorite. The 2015 vintage is a complex blend of Cabernet (29%), Syrah (27%), Merlot (18%), Petit Verdot (14%), Grenache (10%), Carignane (2%). Beguiling and complex flavors of blackberry, plum, vanilla and sage are inlaid with notes of ripe cherry, strawberry, wild blueberry and black tea. Fresh acidity pulsates through the mid-palate and adds length to the finish.
Mercer Estates 2016 Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc, $12.99
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
A truly fine representation of this Washington varietal, with crisp, clean structure uplifted by a stunning cache of wet stone minerality interwoven with refreshing gooseberry, lemon, grapefruit and wheatgrass flavors. There’s a brilliance to the finish that resonates for an incredibly long time. The fruit comes from their estate Princeton Vineyard.
Mercer Canyons 2015 Horse Heaven Hills Red Blend, $13.99
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (86-90 pts.)
Smooth and approachable this red blend has Merlot (60%), Syrah (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (6%), Sangiovese (3%) and Grenache (2%) all sourced from Dead Canyon Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills. The mouthfeel is plush, offering rich core flavors of sweet ripe dark cherry, plum skin and caramel. Hints of coffee and spice intermingle with glossy tannins on the soft finish.
Mercer Canyons 2015 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, $13.99
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (86-90 pts.)
Dark fruit and earthy aromas lead into the palate with smooth structure backed by rich and bold flavors of cassis, black cherry, plum, barrel spice and smoke. The finish is lined with savory herbs and powder fine sweet tannins.
Mercer Canyons 2016 Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc, $11.99
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (86-90 pts.)
Light and crisp, leading with aromas of grapefruit, lime zest and lemon grass. On the palate, the snappy acidity runs in harmony with tangy flavors of fresh lime, green apple, white melon rind and lemon thyme details on the appealing, clean finish.