We stand at the precipice of a new year. It’s a time for making resolutions and vowing to do better, be better and think about what we want to change in the year ahead. In this vein, we find folks signing up for “Dry January”, choosing to abstain from alcohol (at least for the month).
Similarly, at a recent press dinner, the conversation turned to the topic of people drinking less alcohol overall. Some noted that while the New York Times continues to publish its wine column, it is also advising folks about the dangers of imbibing, with much more frequency. In fact, recent evidence seems to overturn the previous thinking that some alcohol consumption had heart healthy effects when consumed in moderation.
So, now that we can’t use that as an excuse or justification for our drinking should we just stop? For many the answer might be yes and I respect that. But, for others that may not be quite the right response. As Karen McNeil, author of the Wine Bible, shares in her recently launched Come Over October campaign, “We believe that through the simple act of sharing wine, we share other things that matter— generosity, caring, and a belief that being together is an essential part of human happiness.”
It is in this spirit that I have sought to be more intentional about the drinking I am doing these days. I don’t make new year’s resolutions per se, but I do resolve to possibly drink less, but certainly to drink better.
Consequently, many magical moments over the past months were punctuated with sharing an equally magical bottle of wine with dear friends and loved ones. And sometimes, a mundane moment can be transformed simply by opening up a special bottle of wine. These special bottles included wines from Merry Edwards, Domaine Anderson and Roederer Estate, with the common thread of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in the cool climates of California’s Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
Merry Edwards
I’ve had the continued pleasure of drinking Merry Edwards wines for the past several years and they never disappoint. There is always something new in the glass to discover as I explore the different appellation and vineyard expressions, primarily hailing from the Russian River Valley. This time around, it was a lovely opportunity to also taste some of the winery’s foray into the Anderson Valley and, in particular, from the well regarded Dach Vineyard, located on the estate of Domaine Anderson.
As I shared in my story on Scharffenberger Cellars, the Anderson Valley, within California’s Mendocino County, is an the ideal place to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for the production of both premium still wines and high quality sparking wines, made in the Traditional Method. Specifically, the Dach Vineyard comprises 17.5 planted acres, which were certified as organic in 2014 and as biodynamic in 2016, and an additional 30 acres, which are home to native wildlife.
Domaine Anderson
I was admittedly unfamiliar with this winery until I had the opportunity to taste through a selection of their wines, but, am now a huge fan. An organic and biodynamic wine producer, Domaine Anderson was established by Jean-Claude Rouzaud, patriarch of the Louis Roederer family, who recognized the quality of the area and consequently planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 1981. In addition to being home to the Dach Vineyard, they produce Estate wines and several other single vineyard expressions (Fairhills, Pinoli and Walraven) of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Roederer Estate
Sister property to Domaine Anderson, Roederer Estate also has its roots in Champagne as “the California outpost of Champagne Louis Roederer”, and is known for its stellar sparking wines. Its vineyards were planted in 1984, with the first wine — Roederer Estate MV Brut cuvée — produced in 1988. Given its history and heritage, these are, not surprisingly, made in the Traditional Method, with long lees aging before disgorgement and release. Their sparklers are simply stunning and are perfect for celebrations large (i.e. New Year’s Eve) and small (i.e. Tuesday night).
As with everything in life, moderation is key and paying attention to our health, such as staying hydrated throughout the day, is important. But, there is no power in water the way there is in wine to transform the mundane to the sublime. Thus, I will continue to choose to drink wonderful wine in the year ahead. I hope you do, too!
Sante!
TASTING NOTES
Merry Edwards Chardonnay 2022, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $45.00
This is a beautifully bright wine with lots of citrus aromas and flavors, along with apple, pear and floral notes. It displays medium acidity, medium plus body and long length. I opened it up on a Sunday evening in June when I was home alone, but enjoying a delicious dinner of salmon with honey-mustard glaze, fresh veggies and Gigantes beans with lemon and herbs.
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir 2022, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $60.00
The following Sunday, I had the pleasure of popping the cork on this gorgeous Pinot Noir, with deep red cherry, low tannin, peppery, medium body, floral, medium acidity, and very long length.
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Dach Vineyard 2022, Anderson Valley (CA), USA
I opened up this wine on September 12, 2024 in celebration of my parents’ 59th wedding anniversary. While mom and dad were happily sailing around the Pacific Ocean, I was delighted to immerse myself in aromas and flavors of lush cherries and smoke, with an earthy undercurrent on the palate. It displayed bright acidity, medium+ body and very long length, a fitting tribute to a very long marriage!
Merry Edwards Georganne Pinot Noir 2022, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $70.00
My birthday is always cause for celebration and it is my favorite holiday. While I dined out at a Mauritius restaurant on my actual birth date, I hosted a few friends on Saturday night and celebrated in style with this stellar selection. This deep wine with red cherry, floral and peppery notes, medium acidity, medium body, low tannins, and very long length was a hit with everyone in attendance. And, it wouldn’t be a birthday without bubbles, so I also served the Roederer Estate Brut NV, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $32.00 that night, which was similarly lauded. It offered up notes of toast, yeast and lime. On the palate it has a beautiful mousse and fine bead, with very long length.
Domaine Anderson Dach Vineyard Chardonnay 2021, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $55.00
Post-multi-month cruise, my parents came to New York to visit and it was a pleasure to catch up with them in person. We had a humble meal of salad and tuna, but it was immediately elevated when we opened up this extraordinary wine. It was layered and complex with lemon, tangerine, slight green apple and minerality, with vibrant acidity, medium+ bodied palate, no discernable oak and very long length.
Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Pinot Noir 2022, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $75.00
A Friday night in early November found me with our dear friends and neighbors enjoying comfort food at their home preparing the flavors of fall with a butternut squash casserole sautéed kale and a roast chicken. The accompanying wine was dry, with bright acidity, medium plus body, medium tannins. It was a bit austere, with brooding dark cherry and herbal notes, culminating in long length.
For the Thanksgiving holiday, I hosted the 5th Annual Friendsgiving Extravaganza, with 15 people seated around the table. As guests came in, they were greeted with the
Domaine Anderson Estate Chardonnay 2021, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $40.00. While not as complex as the Dach Vineyard, it was still a fabulous Chardonnay, with apple, citrus and well-integrated oak, with nutty notes, medium body, fresh acidity and long length. Once seated, we enjoyed the Roederer Estate Brut Rose NV, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $39.00, with yeast, cherry and floral aromas. It is very fresh and bright, with long length and a great pairing option with the panoply of food on the table.
Domaine Anderson Estate Pinot Noir 2021, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $55.00
This was absolutely luscious, redolent of raspberries and black cherries. It offered up bright acidity, slight earth, medium body and long length. It would pair well with a wide variety of cuisines, but is equally lovely on its own.
Merry Edwards Coopersmith Pinot Noir 2022, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $75.00
In mid-December, we headed upstairs for Game Night with Hillarie & Tom, enjoying this Pinot Noir, alongside “What Do You Meme” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Card Scramble Board Game”. It was earthy, with mushroom and herbal characteristics, joined by bright red cherry, with medium body, low tannins and long length.
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir 2022, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $55.00
I’m in the midst of planning a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina in mid-March and recently looked up the time zone relative to my location in New York, NY. It is two hours ahead. Last Friday, with the weekend upon us and the mantra that it is five o’clock somewhere, we broke open this bottle for “happy hour” at 5:00 pm Buenos Aires’ time. It displayed aromas and flavors of cherries, cocoa and wet leaves, along with bright acidity, medium body and long length.
Domaine Anderson Dach Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $75.00
This is a stunning expression of Pinot Noir, with depth, complexity and balance. With rich cherries, slight citrus, floral and earthiness, the wine is fresh and vibrant, with medium body and extremely long length.
Roederer Estate Clark Road Vineyard 2020, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $55.00
Considered to be a “grower” wine by the estate’s winemaker, Arnaud Weyrich, this small production (575 cases) is described as “an expression of a specially chosen site on [their] estate.” This single vineyard sparkling wine brings together Pinot Noir (76.8%) and Chardonnay (23.2%), which is then aged for 32 months on the lees. We rang out 2024 with this wonderful wine, which was rich and ripe with notes of apple and toast, good acidity and very long length. It was a pleasure to kick off our New Year’s Eve celebration in style!
