A Legacy of Award Winning Wines by Winemaker David Forsyth
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Gold Medal
San Francisco International Wine Competition | 2010
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93 POINTS
Ultimate Wine Challenge| 06/2010
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Silver Medal
Seattle Wine Awards | 05/2010
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Silver Medal
Los Angeles International Wine Competition| 06/2010
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"Smoky aromas with licorice. Cherry flavors followed by balanced tannins. Serve with tender steak topped by a chilled dollop of tarragon butter"
Bob Woehlers | Tri City Herald | 02/2010
MERLOT
Merlot 2007
Best Merlot/Andy Markin Award
Washington State Wine Competition| 06/2010
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Double Gold
Seattle Wine Awards| 05/2010
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Starting chewy and dusty, this wine's brickish mineral note accents red plum flavors. The oak is a bit blocky at the moment, but should settle with some cellar time; then serve with roast beef.
"Best Buy"
89 Points | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 04/2010
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87 POINTS
Ultimate Wine Challenge| 06/2010
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Silver
San Francisco International Wine Competition| 06/2010
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“Medium to full bodied, dark cherry, good spice, licorice, cedar, ground white pepper, very pleasant.”
Recommended!
Doug Paulding | Sante' Magazine | 12/2009
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"Oak, big blackberries and smooth chocolate characteristics. It's perfect for a gourmet burger."
Bob Woehlers | Tri City Herald | 02/2010
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This Merlot from Mercer Estates boasts big flavor and vibrant fruit. The well-developed flavors of cherry and chocolate dominate the palate, wrapped up in a lovely cloak of vanilla. Malleable tannins, soft edges and an enduring finish put the wrap on this delicious red wine treat from Washington. A stunning rendition of all that a Merlot should be. Perfect Pairings: Grilled or roasted beef, lamb or chicken and mushroom based recipes.
"Wine of the Week"
Stacy Slinkard | About.com | 03/2010
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Winemaker David Forsyth crafted this wine from 83% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. He used grapes from Desert Wine Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope and McKinley Springs Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. The resulting wine opens with concentrated aromas of Bing cherries, black cherries and understated oak, followed by bright, lush flavors of red cherries and raspberries. The oak is well integrated and the acidity provides ample structure.
"Outstanding"
Andy Purdue | Wine Press Northwest | 04/2010
CHARDONNAY
Chardonnay 2007
“Very pleasant, relatively light, showing a pretty mix of citrus and tropical fruit, fresh cream, light toast and
an hint of cinnamon. The wine has a pleasing ripeness.”
“89 POINTS”
Wine Enthusiast | 9/2009
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“Apples, pears and mangoes abound in the rich pleasing mouth feel from French oak and surlie aging. “
Rated “Outstanding”
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Wine Press Northwest Magazine | 5/2009
"Rich and creamy on the palate, with a light toast of oak and pineapple and tangerine flavors. match it with lobster and a dipping sauce of clarified butter, garlic salt and sliced almonds."
Bob Woehlers | Tri City Herald | 02/2010
Chardonnay 2008
88 POINTS
Ultimate Wine Challenge| 06/2010
Silver Medal
NextGen Wine Competition| 06/2010
PINOT GRIS
Pinot Gris 2008
Double Gold
Seattle Wine Awards| 05/2010
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Best of Class, Double Gold
Tri Cities Wine Festival | 11/2009
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Silver
San Francisco International Wine Competition| 06/2010
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“A lot of wine for the price. A mouthful of pear and peach flavors, and a tasty picnic wine”
Best 20 under $20
Seattle Magazine | 08/2009
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“Offers generous fruit and bright acids that make this a refreshing and elegant Thanksgiving accompaniment. It has notes of apricot, white peach, orange rind, some green bell pepper and minerals on the long finish. It’s also a bargain at $14”
Edward Dietch | Today msnbc.com | 11/2009
*****
"Light bodied citrus, crisp, honey, steely, clean, refreshing, good mineral notes.”
Recommended!
Doug Paulding | Sante' Magazine| 12/2009
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'Two Thumbs Up'
"Lots of tropical fruit aromas such as mango, green apple and pineapple, but with a ton of refreshingly searing acidity. Mercer Pinot Gris is made by winemaking rockstar David Forsyth, formerly of Hogue Cellars, and won't set you back more than $14."
Gil Kulers | Atlanta Journal Constitution| 02/2010
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Rated "Outstanding"
"Clean, straight-forward and balanced delivery of Honeycrisp apple and tart lemon, capped by apple peel tartness. Pair this beautiful white wine with seared scallops, grilled halibut or mild Asian dishes."
Wine Press Northwest | 02/2010
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"Classic minerality and good acids complement citrus and melons. It's a great accompaniment to chilled sauteed prawns."
Bob Woehlers | Tri City Herald | 02/2010
RIESLING
Riesling 2007
”Subtle floral and mineral flavors typical of an aging Riesling”
★★ 2 Stars, American Rieslings, Ten Best
Eric Asimov | New York Times, | 12/2009
*****
“89 Points”
”Succulent and deliciously juicy, this is a near perfect expression of mainstream Washington Riesling. It is sappy, tangy, lip-smacking wine, expressing ripe apples, Asian pear and lovely hints of grapefruit, pineapple and citrus.”
Paul Gregutt | Wine Enthusiast | 11/2008
*****
”American Riesling continues to excite me, and two examples from Washington State are worth looking for. The 2007 Mercer Estates in the Yakima Valley is off-dry and mouth-filling with white peach, melon, orange and lime notes. It is also a bargain at $15.”
Edward Deitch | msnbc.com | 7/2008
*****
“Outstanding”
”another great Riesling. This shows off minerally, even dusty notes in the nose alongside tropical fruit and citrus zest. On the palate are deep, complex flavors of orchard and tropical fruit, all backed with mouth-watering acidity.”
Andy Perdue | Wine Press Northwest | Summer/2008
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"A delicate blend of apricot and orange with a crisp palate feel. Serve it with spring rolls."
Bob Woehlers | Tri City Herald | 02/2010
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Riesling 2008
Gold Medal
Seattle Wine Awards| 05/2010
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Gold Medal
Los Angeles International Wine Competition| 06/2010
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Silver Medal
Washington State Wine Competition| 06/2010
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SAUVIGNON BLANC
Sauvignon Blanc 2007
“87 Points”
“Light and refreshing, with relatively delicate pear and green apple flavors, lingering on the bright finish..”
Harvey Steiman | Wine Spectator | 05/2008
*****
“3 1/2 Glasses”
“Fresh and lively, this is an auspicious debut, very pleasing wine and a solid value..”
NYC Wine Reports | 05/2008
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"Herbs, a bit of grass and then crisp grapefruit flavors. Just right for baked herb chicken"
Bob Woehlers | Tri City Herald | 02/2010
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Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Silver
Washington State Wine Competition| 06/2010
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87 POINTS
Ultimate Wine Challenge| 06/2010
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SYRAH
Syrah 2007
“90 Points”
“Years Best American Syrahs”
Wine and Spirits Magazine, | 02/2010
Association of Washington Business
Environmental Excellence Award
Leading Practices
Mercer Wine Estates LLC, Prosser (fewer than 100 employees)
Mercer Wine Estates, a family-owned operation that produces wine through a partnership with the Mercer and Hogue families, has a keen understanding of the importance of protecting land for future generations. The farmland that it relies upon now for its livelihood was settled by the families in the late 1800s. Some steps the winery has taken to ensure the land remains protected for future generations include construction of an energy-efficient building made from 20-ton concrete tilt-up wall panels. They also use a sophisticated centralized computer program to control hot water, wine tank refrigeration, warehouse and barrel room cooling and heating and a juice heat exchanger. In addition, the winery has taken steps to reduce power consumption, and new water management practices have reduced water consumption up to 50 percent of the industry average per gallon of wine.
