Reverse Wine Snob®

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good

  • About
    • What is a Reverse Wine Snob?
    • The Rating System
    • Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery
    • Best of Lists by Category
  • Aldi®
  • Costco®
  • Trader Joe’s®
  • FREE GUIDE
  • Insider Deals
  • Contact
    • Submit Samples
    • Contact Info

Estancia Reserve Meritage – Make Mine A Meritage

By: Jon Thorsen Last Updated: December 11, 2016

Estancia Reserve Meritage 2009 - Make Mine A Meritage Wine #7
Sweet oak and rich fruit wrapped up in a smooth package.

62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot from Paso Robles, California.

SRP of $30 and available for as low as $20 at Costco.

From the bottle:

“As one of the founders of the Meritage Alliance in 1988, Estancia remains devoted to making world class Bordeaux style blends from our California estate vineyards. Our 2009 Meritage expresses the true terroir of our Keyes Canyon Vineyard in Paso Robles. Sweet cherry and chocolate aromas from Cabernet Sauvignon, soft and lush fruit from Merlot and firm, structured tannins from Petit Verdot harmoniously come together to create a classic blend.

14.1% Alcohol”

We’re nearing the end of our series on Meritage so today we turn to one of the original members of the Meritage Alliance, Estancia Estates. Their Meritage blend remains one of the most popular based on the number of searches on Wine-Searcher:

Estancia Reserve Meritage 2009 - Make Mine A Meritage Wine #7

The 2009 Estancia Reserve Meritage begins with tons of blackcurrants and a plethora of sweet oak notes on the nose — vanilla, caramel, and nutmeg are a few of the highlights. The wine tastes sweet and rich with more blackcurrant plus blackberry and raisin fruit. Major oak influence continues with loads of  vanilla, chocolate and caramel flavors in the mouth. The whole thing is wrapped up in a surprisingly smooth package. Fans of Apothic Red will find a lot to like in this wine, which I would consider a nice step up in quality. It ends dry with a little spice and a whole lot more rich fruit and sweet oak.

Wine in the “Make Mine A Meritage” series:

  • Lyeth Meritage 2010 – Make Mine A Meritage Wine #1
  • Hahn Winery Central Coast Meritage 2010 – This ain’t no second class Bordeaux.
  • Dry Creek Vineyard Sonoma County Meritage 2008 – Smooth Drinking Ahead!
  • Fox Run Vineyards Meritage 2010 – Proof the Finger Lakes offers a lot more than Riesling.
  • Arrowhead Red Meritage 2008 – It’s easy to fall for this Meritage from Niagara.
  • Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner Meritage 2008 – Splice the mainbrace!
  • Estancia Reserve Meritage 2009 – Sweet oak and rich fruit wrapped up in a smooth package.
  • Kirkland Signature Rutherford Napa Valley Meritage 2011 – A Sure Thing!
  • Chateau Ste Michelle Artist Series Meritage 2008 – A Work of Art
  • Arrowhead Spring Vineyards Meritage Reserve 2008 – A blackberry patch in a bottle.
  • Franciscan Estate Magnificat Napa Valley Meritage 2009 – Magnificent Magnificat.

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.


Taste Rating: 9              Cost Rating: 1
Overall Rating: 7.0

Recommended Buy


Published: April 2, 2013 Filed Under: California, Meritage

<< Monte Velho White – A Summertime Slam Dunk
Lions Drift Pinotage – An Acquired Taste No More >>

About Jon Thorsen

Author and independent wine consumer helping millions of people find great grape without breaking the bank. Sign up for my FREE GUIDE to learn how! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest and join my Facebook Group to chat about wine.

Reverse Wine Snob Insider Deals
Limited Time Offers. Amazing Discounts. Don't Miss Out!
Twitter 224,821Followers
Facebook 87,700Fans
Instagram 19,350Followers

Best Of Lists!

The Best Zinfandel Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Zinfandel Under $20

The Best Syrah Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Syrah Under $20

The Best Wines at Trader Joe's - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks

The Best Wines at Trader Joe’s

The Best Riesling - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Riesling Under $20

The Best Languedoc Wine Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Languedoc Wines

The Best Garnacha Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Garnacha Under $20

Read All Of Our Best Of Lists Here!

Featured Articles

Southern-Rhone-Feature

Rhone Valley Adventures Part Two – Southern Rhone

Tenet #1 - Buy Wine That Fits Your Lifestyle - Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery

Tenet #1 – Buy Wine That Fits Your Lifestyle

The Best Wine From Argentina Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks

The Best Wines From Argentina Under $20

Tenet #5 - The Wine Industry Often Forgets About The Average Consumer

Tenet #5 – The Wine Industry Often Forgets About The Average Consumer

Silkbush Viognier and Lime Chicken with Avocado Caprese Salad - Summer Lovin'

Silkbush Viognier Plus Lime Chicken with Avocado Caprese Salad – Summer Lovin’

Rhone-Valley-Adventure-Northern-Rhone

Rhone Valley Adventures – Northern Rhone

Order The Book on Amazon!

.

How To Drink Great Wine…Without Breaking The Bank

Tired of wasting money on crappy wine? Sign up for our free guide!

About Me

Maximizing your wine dollars since 2011! Independent wine consumer helping millions of people (2.7 million visitors in 2020 alone) find great wines without breaking the bank including through our exclusive Insider Deals. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob don't forget to sign up for our free guide! Want to chat about wine? Join our Facebook Group!

Reverse Wine Snob®: Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

Copyright © 2011–2021 · Reverse Wine Snob, LLC. | Privacy, Editorial & Advertising Policy