Dry Creek Vineyard "The Mariner" Meritage 2021
(Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California) - [JS 95, #59 Top 100] [WE 92] [JD 91]
Regular price $57.00 Sale price $41.97 Save $15.03
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About this Wine:
The Mariner is a powerful, yet elegant Meritage made in the tradition of some of the world’s greatest Bordeaux blends. This wine is the culmination of years spent working with different vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley, including our own Endeavour property. The Mariner represents our vision to produce the finest Meritage wine from the Dry Creek Valley using the five noble Bordeaux varieties. The grapes for this delicious Bordeaux-inspired blend come from several of our most prized estate and hillside vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley. At first swirl, the wine displays aromas of black currant, plum, black cherry and blackberry. Several more minutes reveal hints of tobacco, toffee and cinnamon. The palate has dark berry flavors along with earthy complexity and savory tones. It finishes with notes of mocha, herbes de Provence and violet. Good acidity will help this wine to age beautifully for years to come.
blend: |
66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec |
fermentation: |
13–16 days in fermenters at 82–88˚F; pumped over twice daily |
barrel aging: |
19 months in French and Hungarian oak; 39% new oak |
harvest date: |
September 8–October 11, 2021 |
soil: |
Hillside vineyard with gravelly soil, iron-rich |
vine age: |
12–26 years |
Ratings & Reviews
95 Points - James Suckling, Rank #59 Top 100 of 2025:
A grand, full-bodied red with plenty of structure framing dense, dark fruit flavors and spicy oak accents. Black cherries, dried blueberries, cocoa and 90% cacao chocolate easily match up to the polished tannins for good balance. It’s a Bordeaux-style blend consisting of 66% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot, 6% cabernet franc, 6% petit verdot and 5% malbec. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.
92 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
This deeply extracted Cabernet blend displays aromas of currants, cassis, black pepper and bitter cocoa on the nose, while the palate shows powerful tannic structure and flavors of cranberry, plum, violets and graphite. Enjoy with rich stews or braised meats. — Tom R. Capo
91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
Pouring an inky purple/black color, the 2021 The Mariner is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and the rest Malbec. It's more expressive on the nose, with notes of tobacco, blackcurrants, cigar box, and leather. Full-bodied, it's a firmly structured wine but retains good, fresh acidity that keeps it going through the palate, with grippy tannins and a rugged feel. It should hold up over the coming 6-8 years. (Drink between 2024-2032)