Prosser-based Mercer Wine Estates and Napa’s Delicato Family Vineyards has launched a collaborative new wine from Washington. The new brand is Mercer Family Vineyards, a partnership between the two respected fourth-generation family wine companies. Beginning in August 2018, a range of the new wines will start rolling out with nationwide distribution.
The new Mercer Family Vineyards label will consolidate the Mercer Canyons and Mercer Estates lines into one tier, while maintaining owners Rob and Brenda Mercer’s uncomprising stance on producing high quality wines at exceptional value. With the slight exception of the Malbec this year, all of these wines were crafted at the Mercer Estates winery in Prosser, Wash. from grapes grown in their estate vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Mercer’s winemaker, Jeremy Santo, took special pride in focusing on these eight wines as part of this new label.
The first vintages of Mercer Family Vineyards (2016-17) will include a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend, and a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon available nationally that start rolling out today. In addition, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Malbec and Reserve Red Blend will be launched in the Pacific Northwest. Read more about Mercer Family Vineyards in the news story posted here.
See our reviews of these inaugural releases below:
Mercer Family Vineyard 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills, $20
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Plump and juicy, with a core of ripe blackberry and cassis flavors generously supported by blue fruit, vanilla, toast and fresh acidity. Savory notes of earthy minerality, and tobacco leaf join well-integrated tannins on the finish.
Mercer Family Vineyard 2016 Reserve Heritage Blend Horse Heaven Hills, $20
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
Velvety smooth and strikingly balanced, offering shimmering vibrancy to the fluid flavors of black currant, mixed black and red berries, mocha and baking spices underscored by fresh acidity and finely detailed mineral and spice aftertaste.
42% Syrah, 38% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec
Mercer Family Vineyard 2016 Edge of Heaven Blend Horse Heaven Hills, $16.99
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-94 pts.)
A stunning red blend of six varietals with a chorus of deeply concentrated cherry, boysenberry and blackberry flavors that coat the mouth, followed by complex layers of crushed rock and pin boughs that roll through the long finish accompanied by firm, yet finely integrated tannins. A crowd pleaser!
39% Merlot, 31% Syrah, 16% Malbec, 5% Grenache, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon
Mercer Family Vineyard 2016 Merlot Horse Heaven Hills, $16.99
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (88-90 pts.)
Smooth, supple and nuanced, loaded with ripe cherry and boysenberry fruit that segue to savory notes of mineral, spice, cocoa and bits of coconut shavings that roll through a layer of fine, sweet tannins on the bold finish.
Mercer Family Vineyard 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills, $16.99
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (88-90 pts.)
Solidly structured, with powder-fine tannins plushly layered with rich blackberry, spiced plum, violet and cocoa flavors that combine harmoniously on the long finish. An excellent value for a Cabernet in this price range.
Mercer Family Vineyard 2016 Malbec, $16.99
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (88-90 pts.)
This Malbec is blended with a splash of Syrah (25%), sourced from grapes grown in the estate vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills and their new Chapman Creek Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. Complex, smooth and balanced, this medium-bodied version has a lot going for it—offering rich, juicy flavors of red cherry, plum and cranberry with tantalizing leather and rose petal accents infused with clove and cardamom. There’s pillowy structure on the midpalate that leads to white pepper finishing notes.
Mercer Family Vineyard 2016 Chardonnay Horse Heaven Hills, $12.99
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (88-90 pts.)
Aromas of spun honey and lightly toasted almond slivers introduce this well-balanced, charming version. There’s an enticing undertow of fresh acidity behind the pear and apple flavors, backed by honeysuckle, yellow melon and lime accents on the smooth finish.
Mercer Family Vineyard 2017 Sauvignon blanc Horse Heaven Hills, $12.99
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (88-90 pts.)
Sourced from their estate Culloden Vineyard and Spice Cabinet Vineyards this version is crisp and refreshing, with aromas and flavors classic of this varietal: bursting with grapefruit, passion fruit, gooseberries and freshly-mown grass framed by juicy acidity. Well-detailed limestone and mineral notes join the zesty finish.