Full Review

Peller Estates

Peller Estates
2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: Canada
Alcohol: 13.5% RS: 0.45%
95 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$10
Best Buy

Peller Estates
2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: Canada
Alcohol: 13.5% RS: 0.45%
Violet color. Aromas and flavors of bacon wrapped dates, chocolate espresso bean, bubbly berry pie crust, and bbq sweet potato chip with a supple, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a delightful, medium-long finish revealing suggestions of plum tart, spiced nuts, and cedar with chewy, earthy tannins and heavy oak flavor. A rich, oak-forward Merlot with bright fruit and grippy tannins that is a real pleasure to savor.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, New World, Oaky & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: bacon wrapped dates, chocolate espresso bean, bubbly berry pie crust, and bbq sweet potato chip
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with suggestions of plum tart, spiced nuts, and cedar
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A rich, oak-forward Merlot with bright fruit and grippy tannins that is a real pleasure to savor.

The Producer

Andrew Peller LTD.

The Producer
697 South Service Road
Grimsby, ON L3M 4E8
Canada
1 905-643-4131

Their Portfolio

93 Ama Bene NV Pinot Grigio, Italy 12% (Italy) $11.00.
94 Ama Bene NV Sangiovese, Puglia IGT 13% (Italy) $11.00.
92 Avenue 2022 Sauvignon Blanc 12.5% (France) $13.00.
88 Avenue 2022 Syrah Grenache Red Blend 14.5% (France) $13.00.
87 Good Natured 2020 Crisp, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
BR Good Natured 2020 Fresh White Blend, Vidal Blanc, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Good Natured 2020 Merlot Gamay Noir, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
87 Good Natured 2020 Fresh White Blend, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00.
94 Good Natured 2020 Balanced Red Blend, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
89 Good Natured 2020 Cabernet Merlot Red Blend, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
91 Good Natured 2021 Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $10.00.
90 Good Natured 2021 Balanced Red Blend, British Columbia 14.5% (Canada) $11.00.
BR Good Natured 2021 Merlot + Petit Verdot Red Blend, Okanagan Valley 14.4% (Canada) $11.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Good Natured 2021 Crisp, Chardonnay, Ontario 13% (Canada) $10.00.
88 Good Natured 2021 Merlot Gamay Noir Red Blend, Ontario 13% (Canada) $10.00.
93 Natural Selection NV Dangerously Good, Chardonnay, Australia 12.5% (Australia) $9.00.
87 Natural Selection NV Dangerously Good, Shiraz, Australia 13% (Australia) $9.00.
87 Neon Coast 2022 Chardonnay, California 13% (USA) $13.00.
86 Neon Coast 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13% (USA) $13.00.
89 No Boats On Sunday Ontario Hopped Cider 5% (Canada) $3.00.
87 No Boats On Sunday BC Original Cider 5% (Canada) $10.00.
87 No Boats On Sunday NS Cider 5.3% (Canada) $3.00.
87 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $15.00.
89 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $10.00.
86 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve Winemaker’s White Blend, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $10.00.
87 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $9.00.
BR Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
89 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve Rosé Light, Niagara Peninsula VQA 9% (Canada) $11.00.
85 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13.5% (Canada) $10.00.
86 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Baco Noir, Ontario 12.5% (Canada) $10.00.
95 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.4% (Canada) $10.00.
94 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
95 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13.5% (Canada) $10.00.
86 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve Winemaker’s Red Blend, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
92 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $14.00.
87 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Pinot Grigio, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $9.00.
87 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Chardonnay, Ontario 13% (Canada) $9.00.
94 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $9.00.
92 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Double Noir Red Blend, Ontario 12.4% (Canada) $9.00.
87 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Rosé Bubbles, Ontario 12.5% (Canada) $11.00.
87 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Cabernet Merlot, Ontario 13% (Canada) $9.00.
92 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ontario 13% (Canada) $9.00.
92 Peller Estates NV Signature Series Ice Cuvee Classic, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $26.00.
93 Peller Estates NV Ice Cuvee Rose, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $27.00.
86 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Rosé Bubbles, Ontario 12.5% (Canada) $11.00.
93 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Pinot Grigio, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00.
86 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $10.00.
87 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Chardonnay, Ontario 13% (Canada) $10.00.
87 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve Rosé Bubbles, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00.
88 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve Secco Bubbles, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00.
89 Small Mercy NV Upbeat White Blend, Ontario 11.5% (Canada) $8.00.
BR Small Mercy NV Easy Going Red Blend, Ontario 12% (Canada) $8.00. - Bronze Medal
91 Thirty Bench 2022 Winemakers Blend, Riesling, Beamsville Bench 10.6% (Canada) $16.00.
89 Thirty Bench 2021 Winemaker’s Blend Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.1% (Canada) $18.00.
87 Thirty Bench 2020 Winemaker’s Blend, Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13.7% (Canada) $19.00.
87 Trius 2020 Pinot Grigio, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $12.00.
89 Trius 2020 Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $14.00.
85 Trius 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.8% (Canada) $12.00.
87 Trius 2020 Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11.2% (Canada) $11.00.
88 Trius 2020 Late Autumn Off Dry, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $12.00.
85 Trius 2020 Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13.5% (Canada) $13.00.
87 Trius NV Brut Methode Tradiotionnelle, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $22.00.
88 Trius NV Brut Rosé Methode Traditionelle, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $22.00.
88 Trius 2022 Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $13.00.
89 Trius 2022 Late Autumn Off Dry, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $13.00.
92 Trius 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $13.00.
90 Trius 2022 Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $14.00.
93 Trius 2021 Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $13.00.
87 Vivo 2021 Especial, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley 13.5% (Chile) $13.00.
88 Vivo NV Reserva Blend No.23, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile 13% (Chile) $12.00.
86 Vivo NV Reserva Blend No.11, Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 13% (Chile) $12.00.
88 Vivo NV Reserva Blend No.19, Malbec, Argentina 12.5% (Argentina) $12.00.
BR Vivo NV Reserva Blend No.47, Pinot Grigio, Argentina 12.5% (Argentina) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Wayne Gretzky 2020 No.99, Pinot Grigio, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $11.00.
89 Wayne Gretzky 2020 No.99 , Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $11.00.
86 Wayne Gretzky 2020 No.99 Rosé, Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $13.00.
BR Wayne Gretzky 2020 No.99 , Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $11.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Wayne Gretzky 2020 No.99, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
87 Wayne Gretzky 2020 No.99 Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $12.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2020 No.99 Baco Noir, Ontario 12.5% (Canada) $12.00.
86 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Pinot Grigio, Ontario 12% (Canada) $12.00.
87 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series Fresh & Crisp White Blend, Ontario 11.5% (Canada) $11.00.
87 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11.1% (Canada) $12.00.
BR Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
95 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $13.00.
93 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $12.00.
91 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series Cabernet Merlot Red Blend, Ontario 13% (Canada) $12.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2022 Founders Series, Pinot Grigio, Okanagan Valley 12.8% (Canada) $13.00.
87 Wayne Gretzky 2020 Whisky Oak Aged Red Blend, British Columbia 14.2% (Canada) $16.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2022 Founders Series, Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley 13.6% (Canada) $13.00.
85 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $12.00.
92 Wayne Gretzky 2022 Founders Series, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $12.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11.1% (Canada) $12.00.
92 Wayne Gretzky 2022 Founders Series, Baco Noir, Ontario 12.5% (Canada) $11.00.
87 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Signature Series, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.9% (Canada) $21.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Signature Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, Niagara-On-The-Lake 12.7% (Canada) $23.00.

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.