Full Review

White Horse Winery

White Horse Winery
2020 Estate Reserve, Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12.3%
91 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$35

White Horse Winery
2020 Estate Reserve, Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12.3%
Ruby color. Aromas and flavors of rose petals, plum, currants, and espresso bean and forest floor with a velvety, vibrant, dry medium body and a tingling, intriguing, medium-length finish with shades of black plum, red cherry and cedar, cocoa nibs, and cherry deglazed grilled portobello mushroom. A very well-executed cool climate Merlot that shows dark fruit and crunchy tannins; pair with grilled fare and various roasts.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: rose petals, plum, currants, and espresso bean and forest floor
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with shades of black plum, red cherry and cedar, cocoa nibs, and cherry deglazed grilled portobello mushroom
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A very well-executed cool climate Merlot that shows dark fruit and crunchy tannins; pair with grilled fare and various roasts.

The Producer

White Horse Winery

The Producer
106 Hall Street
Hammonton, NJ 08037
USA
1 609-270-1411

Their Portfolio

89 White Horse Winery 2021 Estate, Albariño, Outer Coastal Plain 12.7% (USA) $26.00.
88 White Horse Winery 2021 Painted White Estate White Blend, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $23.00.
92 White Horse Winery 2021 Estate, Vidal Blanc, Outer Coastal Plain 11.9% (USA) $25.00.
88 White Horse Winery 2021 Estate Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $32.00.
85 White Horse Winery 2021 Painted Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $22.00.
BR White Horse Winery 2021 Estate Reserve Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12.2% (USA) $29.00. - Bronze Medal
88 White Horse Winery 2019 Estate, Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $20.00.
93 White Horse Winery 2019 Painted Red Blend, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $29.00.
93 White Horse Winery 2018 Cabernet Franc, Outer Coastal Plain 12.8% (USA) $42.00.
93 White Horse Winery 2019 Reserve, Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $35.00.
89 White Horse Winery 2022 Estate Reserve Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12.7% (USA) $29.00.
91 White Horse Winery 2022 Estate Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $22.00.
85 White Horse Winery 2022 Estate Sweet Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $20.00.
88 White Horse Winery 2022 Estate, Albarino, Outer Coastal Plain 12.3% (USA) $26.00.
87 White Horse Winery 2022 Painted White Estate White Blend, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $23.00.
87 White Horse Winery 2022 Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain 13% (USA) $19.00.
87 White Horse Winery 2022 Estate Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $25.00.
88 White Horse Winery 2022 Estate Reserve Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12.7% (USA) $29.00.
90 White Horse Winery 2019 Estate, Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $20.00.
89 White Horse Winery 2018 Painted Red Blend, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $26.00.
90 White Horse Winery 2019 Estate Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $42.00.
88 White Horse Winery 2019 Estate Reserve, Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $35.00.
85 White Horse Winery 2021 Estate, Syrah, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $35.00.
89 White Horse Winery 2020 Coeur d’Est, Outer Coastal Plain 12.2% (USA) $38.00.
87 White Horse Winery 2022 Estate, Vidal Blanc, Outer Coastal Plain 11.5% (USA) $25.00.
91 White Horse Winery 2022 Estate Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $22.00.
88 White Horse Winery 2023 Estate, Albarino, Outer Coastal Plain 13.3% (USA) $26.00.
87 White Horse Winery NV Painted White Estate White Blend, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $23.00.
85 White Horse Winery 2023 Estate, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain 12.7% (USA) $19.00.
85 White Horse Winery 2023 Estate, Vidal Blanc, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $25.00.
BR White Horse Winery 2022 Estate Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $32.00. - Bronze Medal
92 White Horse Winery 2023 Painted Estate Grown Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $22.00.
BR White Horse Winery 2023 Estate Reserve Rosé, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $29.00. - Bronze Medal
86 White Horse Winery 2020 Estate, Chambourcin, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $20.00.
85 White Horse Winery 2021 Painted Red Estate Red Blend, Outer Coastal Plain 12.5% (USA) $26.00.
86 White Horse Winery 2020 Estate Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $42.00.
91 White Horse Winery 2020 Estate Reserve, Merlot, Outer Coastal Plain 12.3% (USA) $35.00.
BR White Horse Winery 2021 Estate Reserve, Syrah, Outer Coastal Plain 12% (USA) $36.00. - Bronze Medal

Merlot

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Merlot is a red variety that is loved by consumers, yet often shunned by certain wine gurus and critics, as they perceive these wines as “little sisters” to the more powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. Yet on its own, the best examples of Merlot are multi-layered, complex wines that are among the finest in the world.

Merlot has many similar flavors to Cabernet Sauvignon, especially with its cherry and plum fruit, but is has fewer, less sharp tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon. Many producers whether in Bordeaux, America, Chile or elsewhere, often blend small percentages of Merlot into Cabernet Sauvignon to lessen the tannic bitterness of the latter.

A few districts in France’s Bordeaux region, namely Pomerol, are home to the greatest examples of Merlot. Chateau Petrus is the world’s most famous example of Merlot, a powerful wine that ages beautifully for 30 or 40 years in the best vintages. There are also celebrated examples from American, especially in Washington’s Walla Walla valley as well as in Napa Valley in California. Merlot is also very successful in Chile, New Zealand and even in certain part of Italy.

Merlot pairs best with foods such as lamb or veal, but it also sought out by consumers to accompany steaks and roast when they want a rounder, more elegant red wine.

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Best Buys for
Merlot

Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA
95 POINTS
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13.5% $10.00.
Canada
Bright Leaf Vineyard 2018 Estate Bottled, Merlot, Finger Lakes
94 POINTS
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13.1% $18.00.
USA
Chloe 2019 Merlot, Monterey County
94 POINTS
Chloe 2019 Merlot, Monterey County
14.5% $17.00.
USA
Taylors 2022 Estate Label, Merlot, Clare Valley
93 POINTS
Taylors 2022 Estate Label, Merlot, Clare Valley
14% $18.00.
Australia
Charles Smith 2020 The Velvet Devil, Merlot, Washington
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Charles Smith 2020 The Velvet Devil, Merlot, Washington
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Taylors 2022 Promised Land, Merlot, South Australia
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Taylors 2022 Promised Land, Merlot, South Australia
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Cannonball 2020 Merlot, California
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Cloud Watcher 2020 Merlot, California
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Cloud Watcher 2020 Merlot, California
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Sunscape NV Merlot, California
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