A New Friend Turned Me Onto An Old Favorite

After a hectic, yet successful December, it’s time to get back into the thick of things, and what better way to do it than to taste some wine, because that’s what you do when you are in the wine business.  So it was a treat when Kyle Boyer from Washington’s Mercer Estates dropped by to show off some of the newest releases from Washington’s 5th generation of farmers.

For some background, the Mercer family has been one of Washington State’s – and the U.S.A.’s – biggest farmers in everything from potatoes to apples to of course, grapes.  Farming the Horse Heaven Hills AVA since 1886, this family – whose rich history is steeped in patriotism as far back as Hugh Mercer, a brigadier general during the Revolutionary War who also served as George Washington’s physician – is about as American as they come.

I’ve been a fan of Mercer for some time, and after a trip to Washington in 2009, I’ve been trying to get them in my stores to sell ever since.  It took coming back to Ohio last year to finally make that happen.

Kyle and I made our way through six of the wines:

Mercer Estates Viognier Culloden Vineyards Horse Heaven Hills 2014.  So this single-vineyard Viognier is pretty fresh and lively, not the kind of soapy, clingy Viognier you can get at this price point.  It shows a lot of floral components, hints of white grapefruit, apricot skin and white peach notes.  It’s really nice for the price.

Mercer Estates Sauvignon Blanc Yakima Valley 2014.  Though the nose has you believing it apes a typical New Zealand style SB, what you end up with is loads of lemon and lime, hints of cilantro, green tomato skin and lots of bracing acidity.  It finishes light and lively on the palate.

Mercer Canyons Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2014.  Fleshy and juicy with bright, clean notes of nectarines, apples and pears, there is a hint of vanilla cream giving it some richness that adds a nice complexity to this fairly inexpensive white.

Mercer Canyons Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2013.  Medium-to-full-bodied red, with a little Merlot and Syrah blended in.  Gives you loads of juicy red and black fruits, vanilla, chocolate and pepper.

Mercer Estates Sharp Sisters Red Blend Columbia Valley 2012.  So here we have a Merlot-dominant blend with Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and Grenache that highlights the incredible diversity of Washington State.  Medium-to-full-bodied with great presence of fruit, great grip, and a finish that doesn’t quit.

Mercer Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Horse Heaven Hills 2012.  Impressive Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon with 12% Malbec, 5% Syrah and 5% Petit Verdot, there are impressive amounts of dark cherry, mocha and dark roast coffee notes.  It’s a big, bold Cab that will match up nicely to a hearty roast, steak or a great burger.

Kyle also pointed out to me their special release of the Eagle & Plow Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, a wine that is very dear to the winery, and in particular, owner Rob Mercer and vineyard manager John Derrick.  On 9/11, John lost his best friend, Richard Guadagno, who was on Flight 93.  Rob was set to end his stint in the military when he instead re-upped for two more tours, leaving his young family behind.  When Rob returned, they wanted to do something more to give back, ultimately purchasing 1 acre of land, planting 911 rows of Cabernet Sauvignon, naming this vineyard Block 93, and finally releasing the first vintage in 2012.  The wine is priced at $93 even, and all proceeds go to various charities, including Children of Fallen Patriots, Friends of Flight 93 and the Boston One Fund.  We have some in stock and there is a little bit of the 2013 available.

I invite everyone to check out the Eagle & Plow, and really, all the wines from Mercer Estates.  These are great wines from a great group of people from an incredible part of the country that continues to overdeliver in quality-to-price ratio everyday.

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