McWatters Collection Meritage 2013

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Tasted in 2021. Blended from 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 13% Cabernet Franc. This wine has aromas of red currant, graphite, leather, smoke, dried herbs and lots of warm, spicy hints as well as a note of violets. Full bodied, more red berry on the palate along with lots of those dried herbaceous notes and a finiah of baking spices and a bit of woodsmoke. Tannins are soft and drying and acidity is medium+, so while this is starting to show a bit of age, there is still lots of life left. Decant at least 45 minutes and enjoy with slow braised beef short ribs.

Deborah Podurgiel WSET IV Candidate rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

I like rich Bordeaux and meaty Meritage blends. They embrace all that is fall and, yes, winter. A red Meritage is a final blend of three or more of the following grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. These wines can be medium-bodied and easy-drinking to rich and full-bodied blends looking for a hunk of steak grilled rare.

The McWatters Meritage 2013 vintage is somewhere in between. Blood-red in the glass, at first sniff the wine is cherry, cranberry, rose petals and sage. But give it 15 minutes and cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg spice develop on the nose as well. On the palate, the 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 14% Cabernet Franc blend is smooth, with ripe red berries, spice and white pepper on the palate wrapped up in balanced acidity and soft tannins. This wine is well-structured and was matured in French oak casks for 15 months prior to bottling. Drink it now by the fire paired with long, reflective evening talks, or pair with a more traditional roast pork tenderloin, cranberry coulis and roasted root vegetables. Classy touch on the corks showing, of course, the time. The cork on this Meritage showed 12:25 – not sure if this was a.m. or p.m. either way, it’s a great time to drink it. This vintage won Bronze in the 2016 National Wine Awards of Canada.