Three from Merry Edwards
Merry Edwards began her winemaking career in the 1970s at Mount Eden Estate, and has also worked at Matanzas Creek. She began her own winery in 1996, and grew it to 30 000 cases, with six estate vineyards. In 2018, Merry handed over winemaking duties to her associate, Heidi von der Mehden, who made these wines. And in February 2019 the future was assured when the Merry Edwards winery was acquired by Louis Roederer. These are interesting wines, made in a noticeably Californian style, but with some balance as well as richness.
Website: http://mmdusa.net/portfolio/merry-edwards-winery
Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
14% alcohol. With barrel ferment and a small proportion of the Sauvignon Musque clone, this is a rich, textured Sauvignon. It has bold flavours of pear and peach with a hint of fennel, some table grape richness, well integrated oak and some spice on the finish. Lovely detail. A polished, nicely refined, richer style of Sauvignon. 91/100
Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018 Sonoma, California
14% alcohol. Sweetly aromatic with black cherry and blackberry notes as well as notes of tar and herbs and spice. The palate has nicely focused sweet black fruits which are ripe but not overripe, and some notes of cedar, clove and cinnamon from the oak. It’s a ripe Pinot Noir, but also a structured one, with a savoury edge to the fruit. Polished and quite stylish, with a noticeable oak imprint (44% new), this ticks a lot of boxes for those who like well made, potentially ageworthy Californian Pinot Noir. It’s really well made, but perhaps lacking a little soul for those who want a touch of wildness, or the in pursuit of balance leanness. 92/100
Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018 Sonoma, California
14.5% alcohol. This is rich, silkily textured and bold with seamless black cherry and blackberry fruit, showing some nice texture with a bit of structure. This is ripe and rich for a Pinot, but there is good balance, with a distinctive spiciness adding some framing to the lush fruit. There’s richness and depth here: ripe but structured, in a modern mould. Pushing the boundaries of ripeness, and just about getting away with it. 92/100
UK agent: MMD
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