Mercer "Mercer Bros." Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills 2017
(Columbia Valley, United States) - [JS 91] [WS 90, #72 Top 100 of 2020]

This wine gives aromas of ripe red fruit, blackberry pie, dried cranberries with hints of brown sugar and warm baking spices. Powdery tannins lend structure to this wine, while maintaining elegance and ending in a long lingering nish.

ESTATE VINEYARDS:
The fruit for this wine was grown at our estate vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills. The fruit is exposed to dappled sunlight, allowing for uniform ripening and flavor development. Well balanced crop levels have allowed us to create wines with great depth and concentration.

WINEMAKING:
These grapes were picked and immediately sorted in the vineyard. The fruit was not crushed in order to preserve as much whole-berry as possible. At the winery, individual lots were fermented in stain-less steel tanks. Twice daily pumpovers allowed gentle extraction of color and tannins. The wine barrel aged for 16 months in 25% New French and 75% American Oak.

Technical Notes

APPELLATION: Horse Heaven Hills in the Columbia Valley
BLEND : 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 3% Syrah
ALCOHOL : 14.5%
T.A: 0.53 g/100 ml
PH : 4.01

Ratings & Reviews

91 Points - James Suckling:
"Lots of currants, fresh flowers and walnuts on the nose and palate. Full body, soft and velvety tannins and a warm, ripe-fruit finish with vanilla and new wood. A little obvious, but satisfying for a big wine. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 17% syrah and 3% merlot. Synthetic cork." - (8 Apr, 2020 )

90 Points & #72 Top 100 of 2020 - Wine Spectator Magazine: