Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner Meritage 2021 750ml

Product Info

Terroir
Dry Creek Valley, situated just northwest of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, is one of California’s most distinctive sites for Bordeaux varieties—particularly Cabernet Sauvignon. The valley’s geography is narrow yet diverse, running in a north–south corridor framed by coastal mountains on one side and the Russian River influence on the other. This setting creates a unique interplay of warm daytime temperatures and cooling maritime currents that slip in during the evenings, preserving both acidity and aromatic lift. The fruit for The Mariner 2021 is primarily sourced from elevated benchland and hillside vineyards throughout Dry Creek Valley. These sites sit on well-drained gravelly loam and clay-loam soils formed from ancient river deposits and fractured sandstone. Such soils naturally limit vigor and produce smaller, more concentrated berries—ideal for creating a structured, powerful Meritage blend. The 2021 vintage was marked by a warm, dry growing season, relatively low yields, and excellent phenolic ripeness. Early-season drought encouraged deep root penetration, while stable summer warmth allowed for even maturation across all Bordeaux varieties. Cool nights—often dropping 35 to 40 degrees from daytime highs—protected acidity and aromatic nuance. Harvest was carried out in multiple passes, ensuring each block reached optimal ripeness. The resulting fruit showed remarkable purity, depth, and tannin quality, making 2021 one of the standout vintages of the decade for Dry Creek Valley reds.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
The Mariner represents Dry Creek Vineyard’s flagship interpretation of the traditional Bordeaux blend, typically dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with carefully proportioned Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Each component is harvested, fermented, and aged separately, allowing the winemaking team to express its varietal identity before the final blend is assembled. Hand-harvested clusters are sorted meticulously to remove underripe or damaged fruit. Fermentation occurs in small stainless-steel tanks, where temperature control is closely maintained to preserve aromatics while encouraging full tannin development. Gentle pumpovers and cap management are tailored to each lot, ensuring extraction remains refined, never coarse. After fermentation, the individual lots are moved to French oak barrels—typically a significant portion being new or once-used—to integrate tannins and build the polished structure that distinguishes The Mariner. Barrel aging lasts roughly 18–20 months. During this time, the wines undergo malolactic fermentation and gain layers of spice, toast, and creaminess while retaining clarity of fruit and terroir character. The blending process is meticulous, involving dozens of potential trial combinations. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the 2021 blend, contributing power, cassis-driven aromatics, and structural tannin. Merlot adds generosity, mid-palate flesh, and a touch of sweetness. Petit Verdot provides intense color, blue-fruited depth, and firm, architectural tannin. Cabernet Franc brings aromatic lift, violet tones, and herbal detail, while Malbec rounds out the blend with plush black fruit and a sheen of minerality. The final wine is a seamless, expressive Meritage with both poise and longevity.

Tasting Notes
From the moment it’s poured, the 2021 Mariner reveals a commanding yet elegant presence. The aromatic profile is layered and slowly unfurls: cassis, black cherry, and blackberry compote at the core, surrounded by lifted notes of violets, graphite, dried lavender, and cedar shavings. With air, additional dimensions emerge—espresso bean, cocoa nib, baking spice, licorice root, and a whisper of warm leather. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, structured, and confidently expressive without ever feeling heavy. A concentrated wave of blackcurrant, mulberry, and black plum introduces the wine, supported by dense, fine-grained tannins that coat the palate with precision. The mid-palate opens into savory complexity—bay leaf, tobacco leaf, roasted herbs, crushed granite, and subtle hints of olive tapenade. There is a remarkable interplay of power and freshness: while the fruit is ripe and abundant, the backbone of acidity gives lift, clarity, and restraint. The finish is long, persistent, and multidimensional. Notes of dark chocolate, cassis, sandalwood, iron-rich minerality, and dried herbs linger well after swallowing. The wine’s structural finesse suggests a long life ahead, with the ability to develop added layers of earth, truffle, cedar, and forest floor over the next decade. This 2021 Mariner distinguishes itself through its purity, precision, and compositional balance—arguably one of the strongest editions of the wine in recent years.

Food Pairing & Service
Because of its depth and complexity, The Mariner pairs beautifully with robust and richly flavored dishes. Ideal options include:

• Herb-crusted lamb rack with rosemary and garlic
• Grilled ribeye steak finished with smoked sea salt or café de Paris butter
• Braised short ribs or beef bourguignon, whose richness complements the wine’s tannic structure
• Wild mushroom and truffle pasta, highlighting the wine’s earthy undertones
• Venison loin with juniper and black cherry reduction
• Aged cheeses, such as vintage Gouda, Comté, or clothbound cheddar

Vegetarian pairings work equally well with umami-rich dishes like charred eggplant, lentils cooked with herbs and wine, or a roasted mushroom and barley risotto. Serve the wine at 60–65°F in a large Bordeaux stem to capture its aromatic breadth and layered texture. For optimal enjoyment in its youth, a 60–90 minute decant is recommended, allowing the tannins to relax and the aromatics to blossom. While it is expressive now, the 2021 vintage has the structure and concentration to age gracefully for 10–15 years, delivering increasing nuance and complexity over time.