Philly Wine Finder

Three Rivers Meritage

We bought this Columbia Valley Meritage as part of the Fine Wine and Good Spirits online winter sale for $15.99. The wine orginally sold for $35-$39 and received a 91 score from Wine Spectator.  Only 650 cases were made. 

We picked up tart blueberries and smoke, but the most noteworthy aspect was the long delicious finish. Perhaps a little past its prime, but still very yummy.

The Fine Wine and Good Spirits online winter sale is still going on, but most of the wines are gone. Rumor has it that the next blowout sale will be March 1.

2001 Three Rivers Winery Meritage (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley)
CellarTracker

(Mika Winery) Meritage Sonoma 2004

Thanks to Mark on PAWineTalk who posted about this mystery wine that according to PLCB normally sells for $85 a bottle but is now available for $8.49. We picked some up at Store 5133 (Franklin Mills) and had to try it immediately.

It did not disappoint. Deep purple color, dark fruit on the nose, well-balanced, nice long finish. The wine label is fake as far as producer is concerned, but it is labeled "meritage" (rhymes with heritage) which means it must be a Bordeaux style blend (this one is Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec); it must be the winery's best wine of its type; and its production must be limited to 25,000 cases per vintage.  To us, this did not even taste like a California wine, at least not the ones we are used to.

We began by firmly stating we were just going to have a little taste, but next time we looked the bottle was gone.  Not the best for summer--it didn't pair so well with our spicy grilled andoille sausages--but who cares? Good wine is good wine. We we will be buying more of this outstanding value for drinking in fall and winter.

Mika Winery Meritage Sonoma County 2004
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 30894
Size: 750ML
Price: $8.49