Mercury Wines - Geyserville, CA

Hello Again!!
It's getting wintery here in the wine country. There is a brisk chill in the air and the vineyards have turned from green to yellow to purple to brown. The next phase is what I like to call the "post-apocalypse" period - when the leaves fall off and all there is to see is vines and sticks for miles on end... so that means it’s time to stock up on Vino for the winter hibernation!

Speaking of wines for the winter, what could be better than Mercury Wines!! Located centrally in the thriving metropolis of Geyserville, Mercury opened in December of 2009, with their first vintage being 2005 and has fast become my favorite stop in Geyserville.

Mercury is owned and operated by Brad Beard and Jake Hawkes (Jake is assistant winemaker for Hawkes Wines, but that is for a future article). The tasting room is themed all things Mercury - such as Mercury automobiles, records, spacecraft, and Freddie. Brad, along with making wine, runs the tasting room and is always charming and knowledgeable. One of my favorite things about Mercury wines is that each varietal is in a unique bottle, which Brad describes during the tasting. Now, onto the wines!

2009 Pinot Blanc - $18/btl, 45 cases - Wonderful full bodied white wine with delicious peaches, honey, and nectarine. This is simply the best Pinot Blanc I've EVER tasted. You better get some before Brad and I drink it all!

2009 Albarino - $18/btle, 75 cases - This a Spanish grape grown in Paso Robles. This wine has an aroma like a cool breeze with melon and honeysuckle. A slight, yet pleasant tartness completes this food friendly wine.

2009 G-Vertz - $18/btle, 75 cases - Citrus pear nose, with low residual sugar, this bone dry G-Vertz is crisp and refreshing.

2008 Sonoma County Pinot Noir - $25/btle, 150 cases - Now you know that Lou is not a Pinot Guy, but if I had to drink one, this would be it. This is a peppery, spicy pinot, with dark cherry and a smooth earthy finish.

Non-Vintage Red Table Wine - $10/jug – Bottled monthly and is a field blend of 05 & 06 cab sauv, cab franc, merlot, petit verdot or whatever is available. Comes in cute little 500 ml jug.

The Messenger (Cab Sauv blend) and The Sister (Merlot blend) - ALL SOLD OUT! I demand you make more NOW!!!

2006 The Father - $45/btle, 75 cases - Cab Franc based blend. This is a world class blend with great structure that can easily go 10 or more years with proper cellaring. Layers of leather, chocolate, tobacco, and earthy dark fruit. YUM!!

Brad is also soon to release a Rose of Cabernet Franc and a late harvest Pinot Blanc dessert wine, which I plan to taste later today so check out Stacy’s Wine Stop wine forum tomorrow!!!!

Till next time!! Lou

12/10/12