Happy November! Thanksgiving is around the corner, which means that you are likely busy planning holiday menus and wondering what wines should grace your table.
For the past several years, I have had the great pleasure of having at least one bottle of Merry Edwards wines paired with my Thanksgiving meal (see especially this post). In fact, I am very grateful to have been able to sample these wines since 2020. They have been a bright spot in what has been a challenging period for us all.
This year (thankfully) is no exception. Yet, rather than wait to taste my final bottle to share my tasting notes with you, I wanted to post this now to encourage you to take advantage of this special offering to ensure that you, too, can enjoy a bottle (or more) of Merry Edwards as part of your festivities.
SPECIAL THANKSGIVING SET
The folks at Merry Edwards have curated a special Thanksgiving set of wines featuring one bottle each of:
– 2020 Olivet Lane Chardonnay*
– 2020 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir*
– 2020 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir*
The wines also include a wooden etched logo box, making it a very gift-worthy option.
Note: There are a limited number of Thanksgiving Sets available, so don’t delay if you feel the pull. Plus, the shipping deadline for guaranteed Thanksgiving delivery is: Friday, November 11th.
–>To purchase, visit their website or call the winery at: 888-388-9050.
Of course, any of the Merry Edward wines would be a great addition to your table now and throughout the year and are perfect gifting wines as well.
*Tasting notes for the Pinot Noirs are included below as is my tasting note for a previous vintage of the Olivet Lane Chardonnay.
TASTING NOTES
Merry Edwards 2019 Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $68.00
Aromas of butter and smoke greet the nose and persist on the elegant palate, with apple and citrus flavors, good acidity, medium+ body and very long length.
NB: The offer above includes the 2020 vintage; this note is for the 2019 vintage.
Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $45.00
This continues to be a favorite Sauvignon Blanc of mine. The wine is fresh, with a pronounced nose of ripe citrus and tropical fruit aromas. The palate is dry, with ripe citrus fruit on the attack, bright acidity, medium+ body, and long length. Overall, it is mouth filling and delicious.
Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2020, Sonoma County (CA), USA, $48.00
From the larger Sonoma Coast AVA, this wine is sourced from grapes that are grown in the cool, coastal climate. The nose and palate are redolent of fresh and dried herbs, with dark cherry aromas and flavors. It is dry, with medium+ acidity, medium body, soft, ripe tannins, culminating in long length.
Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2020, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $58.00
From Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, which is situated further inland, these vineyards are warmer than the coast, but still influenced by the fog, maintaining good acidity levels and freshness in the grapes. Concentrated, with ripe, dark cherry fruit, and notes of earth, pomegranate, and a hint of coffee. The wine is layered and complex, with bright acidity and nice length on the palate.
Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir 2020, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $80.00
Selfishly, I am going to save this to enjoy for Thanksgiving 2022 and will include my tasting note after the holiday.
However, here is my note from the 2018 vintage of this same wine:
Merry Edwards MEREDITH ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2018, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $72.00
With 20 planted acres, the Meredith Estate vineyard is one of the larger single-vineyard productions from Merry Edwards. This abandoned apple orchard in the Sebastopol Hills was purchased by Merry in 1996 and planted to Pinot in 1998. They practice sustainable agriculture, with the use of cover crops and other earth-friendly farming approaches.
Red and black cherries feature prominently on the nose, with cherry and berry fruit, along with notes of wet leaves and an herbal undercurrent. The dry palate provides a decidedly savory note, with medium+ body, high acidity and very long length.