LIMITED
96 Points Decanter
Grapes are de-stemmed and cold-soaked for five days, then aged for nine months in 37% new French oak. This is the flagship wine of the estate, and the first wine Merry Edwards ever produced. Roughly 60% of the fruit is estate-grown, with the balance sourced from growers, predominantly from the Laguna Ridge and Sebastopol Hills. The wine is incredibly delicious, showing a vibrant red-fruited character layered with Indian spice nuances and ultra-fine, powdery tannins. A long line of crushed stone minerality runs through the palate, finishing with a distinctly saline mineral edge. Bright, expressive, and complex, it captures both energy and finesse in equal measure.
93 Points James Suckling
A rich and dark-fruited wine with complex aromas of brooding black cherries, resinous herbs and mint. The palate is juicy, with broad tannins and flavors of cherries, sage and black tea. Medium- to full-bodied.
92 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley matured for nine months in 37% new French oak. It has slowly unfurling scents of cranberry, rhubarb, Earl Grey tea leaves, forest floor and dried herbs. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated, autumnal flavors. It’s structured by fine-grained tannins and mouthwatering acidity and has a long, layered finish.
92 Points Wine Enthusiast
Focused aromas of concentrated raspberry, cherry gastrique, violets, and cola spice waft from the glass on the nose of this Pinot. The palate is richly structured, with grippy tannin, plenty of acid, and flavors of roasted Bing cherry, cinnamon, cedar, and shiitake that linger all through the finish.
Winemaker Notes
The nose on this vintage features an undercurrent of sweetness, with hints of root beer and cherry cola, along with ripe cherries, caramel, and floral and forest notes. The full-forward palate, with an elegant entry, offers pine and sweet red fruit, with dried cocoa throughout the extended finish.
