Results of the 2024 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)
Merlot
Category Overview by Judge Treve Ring
(Jump straight to the medal winners.)
Poor Merlot. Here it was, cruising along at the top of its game, in its lustrous plum-robed glory. One of the most popular red wine varietals on the globe due to its pleasant berry fruit, accessible softness and plush mouthfeel, Merlot appealed to many tastes and many demographics. Adaptable, blendable Merlot rose to the top of the North American wine world in the 1980’s, achieving success with both California cult classics and Washington State pioneers. Unfortunately, a few too many jumped on the Merlot train, flooding the markets with quick-to-market, uninspired wines.
Merlot remains the number one red planted grape in BC, even after it was smacked sideways in the wine geek chic 2004 movie Sideways. Pinot Noir-loving protagonist Miles claims that “if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!” Merlot sales dropped across North America and the UK, though interestingly, Okanagan Merlot sales held steady.
There were quite a few Merlot flights in NWAC24, and quality varied wildly. There were no Platinums, and only 4 Gold medals, primarily from Southern Okanagan, but also from Niagara’s Marynissen Estates. A handful of Silvers again were dominated by the Southern Okanagan, with Ontario popping up from time to time. When Merlot was left to be generous, huggable, fruit forward, yet structural, it shone. I hope future Merlots continue to be made in this more moderate way, rather than some of the more monstrous examples entered.
And the winners are…
Black Sage Vineyard 2020 Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Marynissen Estates 2020 Platinum Merlot, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Nk’Mip Cellars 2021 Qwam Qwmt Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nostalgia Wines 2020 Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Bordertown 2020 Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Domaine Queylus 2020 Merlot La Grande Réserve , Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Four Shadows Winery 2020 Merlot, Naramata Bench Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Gray Monk 2020 Odyssey Merlot, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Inniskillin Niagara 2020 Montague Vineyard Merlot, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Nk’Mip Cellars 2020 Qwam Qwmt Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nk’Mip Cellars 2021 Winemakers Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stratus 2020 Merlot, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tightrope 2021 Merlot Fleet Road Vineyard, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tinhorn Creek 2021 Reserve Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Coopers Hawk Vineyards 2020 Merlot Reserve , Ontario
Dirty Laundry 2021 Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Hillside Winery 2021 Hillside Merlot, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Muscedere Vineyards 2020 Merlot, Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario
Rust Wine Co. 2020 Merlot South Rock Vineyard, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Three Sisters Winery 2021 Kiki, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Vieni Estates 2020 Merlot Reserve, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
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