This Washington winery produces a full line of affordable whites and reds. We tasted three of its newest releases. (The photo below isn’t one of the actual wines reviewed but will give you a sense of the label at least.)

2009 Mercer Pinot Gris Yakima Valley – Light and pleasant, and quite fruity for Pinot Gris. Citrus, pineapple, and a touch of chalky mineral on the finish. Very drinkable. B+ / $14

2009 Mercer Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Valley – Intense Sauvignon Blanc, with big mango and pineapple notes. Not much acid, but tons of fruit, making it an easy-drinking wine that works best as an aperitif. B+ / $14

2008 Mercer Merlot Columbia Valley – A big, smoky, somewhat skunky red. Subtle plum fruit is there, but it’s muddy and buried under a lot of funk. That smokiness just taints the whole experience. C+ / $24

mercerwine.com

2008 Mercer Merlot Columbia Valley

$24

6

Rating

6.0/10