Mission Hill Reserve Merlot 2017

88POINTS

16/20

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2017 began late, wet, and cool, but after 66 days, including a record-breaking dry spell in July and August, it came to an end on October 30, yielding a small, intense crop of ripe fruit. The fruit comes off two southern estates in Osoyoos (54 percent) and Oliver (46 percent). The style is rich and spicy with some milk chocolate hints. The palate is equally expressive with wild blackberry, cassis, dark plums, vanilla, and toast. Friendly but authentic, try this with grilled poultry or meats. It's entirely merlot this year, but I miss the recent introduction of cabernet franc in 2016.Tasted: 13 January 2021Tasted by: Prices:

BC	$26.99	750ml	BCLS, winery direct, private wine shops
SK	$25.00	750ml
ON	$26.00	750ml	LCBO

Producer: Mission Hill Family EstateDistributors: Mark Anthony Wines and Spirits
Grape: MerlotCSPC: 772244UPC: 776545995117

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88POINTS

16/20

Mission Hill Reserve Merlot 2017

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2017 began late, wet, and cool, but after 66 days, including a record-breaking dry spell followed in July and August, it came to an end October 30, yielding a crop of ripe fruit. The fruit comes off two southern estates, one in Osoyoos (54 percent), and one in Oliver (46 percent). The style is rich, round, and spicy, presenting as mostly ready-to-drink, although there are some tannins yet to disperse. The fruit is expressive with rich wild blackberry, plums, and toasty vanilla. A friendly merlot with a touch of complexity, try this with grilled poultry or meats. It's entirely merlot this year, but I miss the recent introduction of cabernet franc in 2016.Tasted: 08 April 2020Tasted by: Prices:

BC	$26.99	750ml	BCLS, winery direct, private wine shops
SK	$25.00	750ml
ON	$26.00	750ml	LCBO

Producer: Mission Hill Family EstateDistributors: Mark Anthony Wines and Spirits
Grape: MerlotCSPC: 772244UPC: 776545995117

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88POINTS

16/20

Mission Hill Reserve Merlot 2017

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThick, dark, and wooded, you can chew through this full-bodied merlot. Smoked cedar, sunripened cherry, and potent cassis rule the near 15% palate, with plushed, chewy tannins housing this to a warming finish. From estate vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos, this was matured 15 months in French and American oak. It's a powerhouse now, and if that's what you're after, crack and enjoy.Tasted: 27 April 2020Tasted by: Prices: