Ashley Stephens is the latest in a string of Washington State University graduates to lead the winemaking for Mercer Wine Estates, and this bottling for the family with five decades of growing in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills ranked as the No. 1 Merlot from the 2023 Platinum Awards. It also ranks among the best values of the judging, with contributions from the Mercer clan’s acclaimed Spice Cabinet Vineyard. There’s a complex layering of black fruit, cocoa, sage and bell pepper as its textured structure includes crème anglaise with tangerine acidity, Red Delicious apple skin tannins and a pinch of green peppercorns. Qualifying award: Cascadia International (gold)
Rating: Double Platinum • 96 points
Production: 1,008 cases
Alcohol: 14.5%
Leave a Reply