Tag Archives: Merry Edwards

Home is where the heart (and wine) is! Merry Edwards and Friends help us find meaningful moments and connections amidst an angst-ridden year.

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We’ve finally landed in a new place – a new, physical space and a new state of being. And I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It has been an incredibly challenging time for me over the past several years as I have struggled with anxiety, financial instability, fear, overwhelm, aging and heartbreak.

Much of this can be attributed to the real estate roller coaster on which my husband and I have been on. More specifically, due to financial constraints, in mid-2023, we made the difficult decision to put our home on the market and move to a new neighborhood with the aim of reducing our monthly living expenses. It was an easily conceived plan, yet not so easily implemented.

In fact, what started as a simple idea became a complicated journey that lasted for two and half years and added a lot of stress and strife to our already hectic lives. As a result, we were forced to deal with much uncertainty, a loss of autonomy and a heightened and sustained state of fight/flight/freeze/fawn.

Along the way, we found ourselves half-packed for a period of six months, as we waited for all of the various elements to successfully conclude with the sale of our apartment. Our next leg consisted of subletting a place in a fifth-floor walk up in midtown Manhattan for three months, carrying our medically-compromised dog up and down the stairs at least three times a day. While we were truly grateful to have a safe place to land for that time period, it was definitely not fun.

Thankfully, we are finally on the other side of this ordeal and are trying to level-set our lives once again as we settle into our new home and new normal.

However, all of this upheaval definitely stirred up a lot of feelings, causing us to ask the question: What is a home, anyway? Is it bricks and mortar? Is it your mailing address? Is it simply the place where you lay your head each night?

For twelve years, we had lived in an apartment we had dubbed ZenSKape. With its Zen-like decor – a shoji screen room divider, a waterfall wall feature and art from our trip to Japan – it had been our sanctuary during that time. But, living day-to-day, surrounded by a perimeter of boxes, our home shifted into someplace we no longer felt calm. Then, the relocation to someone else’s residence, added to our sense of unease and a lack of belonging.

In response to this nervous system dysregulation, I found myself reaching out to friends with greater frequency, trying to find that calm and connection. And, many of these meet ups centered around wine, lending a festive and familiar air to our visits. Wine was a constant, keeping us tethered to community and reminding us to find moments of pleasure, peace and happiness, even on some of the hardest days. And, ultimately, finding the joy of making it to the end of this journey!

TASTING NOTES
Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $45.00
May 2025 found me in the moments before the chaos. We were in contract on both the sale of our apartment and the purchase of a new one, anticipating a positive outcome to the lengthy process. In that spirit of enthusiasm, I met up with my friend Ron at his apartment, with a bottle of Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2023 in hand. We opened up the bottle, poured the wine and conversation flowed. Bright acidity, medium plus body, slight herbs, citrus and tropical fruit, culminating in long length and pairing beautifully with Thai cuisine.

Merry Edwards Meredith Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $80.00
Domaine Anderson Pinot Noir 2021, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $55.00
A few weeks later, we admittedly started to feel nostalgic as the end date of living at ZenSKape loomed large. We made linguini with clam sauce for dinner at home and reached for the Merry Edwards Meredith Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023. With tropical fruit and citrus aromas, it was more reserved on the palate, with tart citrus, minerality and long length. In a similar bid for holding on to precious moments, we enjoyed a picnic in Fort Tryon Park with our neighbors, preparing Tuna Nicoise and pairing it with the Domaine Anderson Pinot Noir 2021.


Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2022, Sonoma Coast (CA), USA, $50.00
In further anticipation of our impending move to Riverdale, I met up with my dear friend Aleksandra in her home in Riverdale in June, bearing a bottle of Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. The visit was lovely as was the wine, which offered up bright acidity, medium body, luscious red fruit, slight herbal undertones and long length.

Merry Edwards 25th Anniversary Pinot Noir 2022, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $120.00
Yet, by now, the fatigue of uncertainty had started to weigh on our minds. We had expected to be closing on both places by the end of June, but midway through the month, nothing had changed. Then, only a few days later, we learned that our application to the board in our proposed new building was denied. In the wake of that distressing news, we tried to find a bright spot by enjoying the 2022 25th Anniversary Pinot Noir, which displayed notes of raspberry and dark cherries on the nose. The dry palate presented lively acidity, medium-plus body, with hints of cocoa and spice, along with a very long length. Not long after this delicious diversion, we finished packing up all of our wines, limiting our home consumption for some time.

Bon Vivant Sparkling Rosé NV, California, USA, $20.00
Finally, in early October, the sale of our apartment was complete and we relocated to the midtown sublet noted above. In an effort to make the sublet our own, we found ways to spend time together and with friends. On one occasion, my friend Laura stopped by on a Friday evening, during which we enjoyed the Bon Vivant Sparkling Rosé with charcuterie, cheese and olives before heading to City Center for a mesmerizing dance production of Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends. With a beautiful pale salmon hue, the effervescence danced on our tongues, with flavors of citrus, apple skin and toast.

Bon Vivant Sparkling NV, California, USA, $20.00
Not wanting him to feel left out, I opened up the rose’s Brut sparkler equivalent the following week for our date night in the sublet with Thai takeout. Both this wine and the rose were really wonderful examples of Traditional Method sparkling wines available at a reasonable price point. The Brut had an elegant mousse, with aromas of toast, green apple, citrus and long length.

Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Chardonnay 2023, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $70.00
By now it was mid-November and Thanksgiving was around the corner. As it had been awhile since I had seen my friend Ron, we made our usual plans to meet up at his place over a bottle or two. I knew he would appreciate this single vineyard Chard, with its complex aromas of lemon, citrus, vanilla and toffee. The excellent, full bodied white had bright acidity and very long length; it did not disappoint.


Scharffenberger Cellars Blanc de Noirs 2019, Mendocino County (CA), USA, $40.00
Domaine Anderson Estate Pinot Noir 2022, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $55.00
Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Pinot Noir 2023, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $77.00
For the past five years, we had hosted Friendsgiving in our apartment, which was an important and meaningful celebration for us. But, being in temporary housing meant that such a gathering was impossible. Gratefully, our dear friends who had been welcome guests at our Friendsgiving table took up the mantle to host and invited us to join them and others. We arrived ready to relish a sumptuous meal, surrounded by chosen family and fabulous food, with a Trader Joe’s pumpkin pie and three bottles of wine. We kicked off the festivities with the Scharffenberger Blanc de Noirs 2019, with its notes of toast and lemon, joined by a hint of almond in the finish. As the meal progressed, we opened up two Pinot Noirs, which are a great accompaniment at the Thanksgiving table, as I have shared previously. The Domaine Anderson Estate Pinot Noir 2022 provided an array of dried herbs, spice, berries and fresh red fruits, along with good acidity, medium body and long length. In contrast, the Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Pinot Noir 2023 was less fruit forward and much moodier with smoke, fresh herbal notes, and wet leaves,, but was still bright on the palate with medium-plus body and very long length.


Scharffenberger Sparkling Rosé NV, Mendocino County (CA), USA, $30.00
On the heels of this holiday high, we were grateful to receive good news – our interview with the board at our new apartment co-op had been scheduled for early December. This boded well since it is rare that you are invited to interview if you won’t be accepted soon after. Fingers crossed, we went into the interview cautiously optimistic. Our hard work in putting together our board package was richly rewarded with the announcement that we had, indeed, been accepted. For certain, this called for a bubbly celebration and the Scharffenberger Sparkling Rosé was a perfect option. We slowly savored the mix of red cherries and yeasty notes; admired the palate’s lovely mousse, good acidity and long length; and exhaled a big sigh of relief.  We finally had a new home!

Roederer Estate Sparkling Brut MV, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $32.00
Roederer Estate Sparkling Rose MV, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $39.00
We had the good fortune to be able to move into our apartment in time for the December holidays and, consequently, kept the celebration going. Christmas Day found us at home, happy to be able to continue our Christmas tradition of a Jewish Christmas (Chinese food and movies) in our new place. We merrily toasted the season with Roederer Estate’s Sparkling Rose, which offered up fresh notes of strawberry, apple peel and yeast, along with bright acidity and long length. The Sparkling Brut was wonderful a few days later as we unpacked our lives and got ready for the new year.


Domaine Anderson Estate Chardonnay 2022, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $40.00
Merry Edwards Georgeanne Pinot Noir 2023, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $72.00
For the MLK Holiday weekend, we hunkered down with the snow and settled into our annual connection weekend tradition. Among our activities, we enjoyed some nice dinners together and opened up two wines over the course of the weekend. The Chardonnay displayed a balanced use of oak, with citrus and tropical fruit, medium-plus body and medium acidity. We especially loved the Georganne Pinot Noir 2023, with its range of aromas and flavors from wet leaves and coffee to cherries and cocoa, along with bright acidity, medium body and long length.

Domaine Anderson Pinoli Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Anderson Valley, (CA), USA, $70.00
Merry Edwards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2023, Anderson Valley, (CA), USA, $55.00
At this point in our tenure, we were ready to welcome guests to our home, which we had christened, MaisonOtto. First to visit were Hillarie and Tom, from our previous building, as well as my friend Helene. They all had the good fortune to enjoy Domaine Anderson Pinoli Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 with its depth of bright red fruit, blueberry, and spices. The palate provided good acidity, medium body and very long length. A week or so later, Keith and Linda stopped by before we headed out to dinner at the new Mediterranean restaurant, Sawa, around the corner. We opened up the Merry Edwards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2023, which displayed aromas of cocoa, blueberry and blackberry, slight herbs and earth, which gave way to bright acidity, medium body and long length.

Roederer Estate Clark Road Vineyard 2021, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $55.00
Merry Edwards Coopersmith Pinot Noir 2023, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $75.00
Finally, by mid-February, we were mostly settled and were ready to host our first dinner party, which took the form of a February Baby Birthday Dinner – celebrating two of my best friends whose birthdays are in February. The menu included Carrot and Ginger Soup, Beef Tagine with Apricots and Prunes and a Gluten-Free Chocolate Gingerbread Cake. Admittedly, I was too busy hosting to take good tasting notes, but both wines were truly well received and added greatly to the celebratory nature of the birthday dinner. It had been an arduous journey, but we had definitely arrived on the other side. Home Sweet Home!

Making Merry Memories with Merry Edwards wines

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I’ve been in a different phase of my life right now, particularly marked by a shift toward drinking much less frequently and with much more intention. In this regard, I kicked off 2024 with what I referred to as “not quite a dry month, but definitely less of the hurricane that was December 2023”. As I have cut back my consumption, I have also sought out higher end wines that bring me much pleasure and savor them all the more as I am being more present and mindful of what’s in my glass.

I am also dealing with a breakup that has hit me really hard. I know that I will survive and come out the other side of this much stronger, but it has been challenging, especially since my last breakup was so long ago that I had forgotten how much it hurts. Moreover, while my consumption of Merry Edwards wines was never solely connected to my ex, we did enjoy a number of bottles together and the Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc was one of his favorites well before he met me, so drinking these wines is somewhat of a reminder of what was and will no longer be. A bittersweet note for sure, but, thankfully, not sufficient to keep me from enjoying them.

With these two influences on my drinking habits, I have been seeking out different ways to indulge in wine than I had done so previously. What this has meant has been a shift away from opening up a bottle of wine just to have a glass (although there is certainly nothing wrong with that) and more frequently, choosing, instead, to share it with dear friends or at least make it the centerpiece of a meal. And, in doing so, it has been a joy to open up and share the beauty and  magic of Merry Edwards wines over the course of several months.

The world is also shifting, with both physical and metaphorical upheaval. Is it any wonder we are besieged by earthquakes and eclipses? In early April, we turned our attention skyward as the sun and moon chased each other across the celestial sky. While many were blasé about the event, others flocked to places near and far in search of totality. What is totality? It is “the whole of something” – a state of completeness. To a certain extent, we are all in search of that, whether we look upwards or inward.

Our friends at Merry Edwards were equally enamored with the eclipse, which coincided with the release of their Cuvée Eclipse Sparkling Wine. Not just labeled with this astronomical event, the grapes for this wine were harvested on August 21, 2017, the date of the last total solar eclipse visible from North America. Sourced from the Richaven Pinot Noir Vineyard at Merry’s home, this wine was aged for six years on the lees, and launched into the world just in time to enjoy with the most recent one.

I admittedly forgot about opening this wine to celebrate the eclipse (see aforementioned break up), but was thrilled to spread the sparkle with my dear friend, Gisela, when she joined me for dinner one night. It was absolutely stunning both visually and on the palate, with a lovely salmon color, tiny bead, complex aromas of cherry, citrus, yeastiness and nuttiness, all of which persist on the palate, with a creamy mousse and extremely long length.

For my husband’s birthday, we opened up the 2022 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc, always a family favorite and a beautiful example of this herbal grape variety. Having undergone barrel fermentation and lees-stirring, the wine has nice weight to it on the palate. More specifically, the wine offered up bright acidity, aromas and flavors of citrus and tropical fruit, floral notes and a touch of herbaceous character, culminating with long length.

The Olivet Lane Chardonnay 2021 was a welcome way to celebrate the end of a stressful work week and usher in a quiet weekend. As one of the oldest existing vineyards in the Russian River Valley appellation, this vineyard is considered to be a heritage property and has long been known as a producer of exceptional Chardonnay. Redolent of nuts, butterscotch, minerality and vibrant citrus aromas and flavors, this full-bodied wine offers up medium-to-high acidity and very long length.

Earlier on in the year, a cold, Sunday night in January found me enjoying the Merry Edwards Pinot Noir 2021, which displayed tart cherry, coffee and violet aromas, all of which persisted on the palate. With good acidity, medium body and long length, it was a wonderful accompaniment to my home cooked dinner.

More recently, we hosted an impromptu dinner party with our neighbors, Temple and Derek. What was supposed to be girls’ night out for drinks in the neighborhood, was amended to drinks in our apartment, thanks to very wet weather. When Temple and I realized that both of our spouses were also home, we eagerly engaged them in our plans, dashed back and forth between the apartments to gather the makings of our feast, and broke out the Meredith Estate Pinot Noir 2021, which was welcomed by all in attendance. While the Meredith Estate vineyard has always been farmed sustainably, it is now being farmed organically. It offered up deep plum, forest floor, floral, fresh berry and cherry aromas and flavors with medium body, bright acidity and very long length.

And, just a few days ago, a date night at home was the perfect reason to open up the Richaven Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021. This is Merry Edwards’ newest offering, sourced from the eponymous vineyard “located on Merry Edwards’ personal home ranch”. It was a true delight with meaty, dark cherry, plum and cocoa notes; firm, dusty tannins; medium acidity; full body; and very long length.

While I am still finding my footing in this post-break up world, I am surrounding myself more often with friends and family. It has certainly not been a total eclipse of my heart, as it is still open to love and pleasures of the world, especially those of the vinous variety. May you find your own footing in this weird world and may you always have something delicious in your glass. Salut!

LIST of WINES TASTED

  • Cuvée Eclipse Sparkling Wine 2017, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $100.00
  • Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $48.00
  • Olivet Lane Chardonnay 2021, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $68.00
  • Pinot Noir 2021, Sonoma Coast (CA), USA, $60.00
  • Meredith Estate Pinot Noir 2021, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $90.00
  • Richaven Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $80.00

The More the Merrier with Merry Edwards Wines

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Each year, I have the good fortune to hear from the PR person who represents Merry Edwards Winery offering me the opportunity to taste through the current selection of releases. And, every year, I gratefully accept and yet somehow take months to drink through the wines. I am a diligent and dependable person who meets deadlines at the office and yet these bottles linger in my wine cellar for months. Case in point, I received this latest set of wines in late May and yet here it is mid-September and I have only just finished tasting the last of the wines this week. Why?

Why indeed? I gave this quite some thought as the item to taste (and then write) about these wines languished on my “to do” list month after month.

Well, for one thing, I generally prefer to taste these wines alongside a lovely meal, share them with friends and family or both. These are special wines that I truly enjoy drinking with good company, eager to give others the opportunity to taste them as well. In this regard, I sometimes wait for the “perfect” dinner or the “special” occasion rather than just opening them up on a random Tuesday with leftovers. And, while there is nothing wrong with this in theory, in practice it means that lots of time lapses in between tastings.

Recognizing this propensity in myself, I chose to adopt a different philosophy over the past two weeks. We are likely all familiar with the phrase “Life’s too short to drink bad wine,” but it is true in that life is too short… period. End of sentence. We should celebrate the time we have and enjoy it to the best of our abilities. For some (myself included), the price point on these wines means that you can only indulge in them occasionally, but really, while these are, indeed, special wines, they don’t require a special occasion or the perfect moment to drink them. Thus, in accordance with this new approach, I changed tactics and drank the last three bottles in close proximity to each other. I was now done with tasting and could move on to writing. 

In this regard, I often write about the climate and soil of the vineyards where the grapes for these wines are grown (see here for previous stories), which is relevant given that five of the wines below are of the same grape variety and it is their distinct environment that sets them apart from one another and accounts for many of the differences among them. But, at the end of the day, it is what the wine tastes like in your glass that has the most meaning, irrespective of microclimates and soil types.

Thus, what is perhaps more important to you, the reader, is identifying the style of the resulting wine and equally critical, the set and setting in which one drinks it. We all have preferences for different styles of wine, all of which are valid. Taking time to savor the aromas and flavors, seeing how the wine develops in the glass over the course of one’s meal and simply being in a great frame of mind — whether alone or joined by others — all contribute to our enjoyment, much more so than the formality of the meal or day of the week.

So, here are my tasting notes for each of these wines, along with the set and setting (to the best of my recollection as I wasn’t planning on including that information). I hope you will find a style that appeals to your palate and seek it out to sip and savor as we celebrate this thing called life!

Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc
2021, Sonoma County (CA), USA, $48.00
Complex aromas of herbs, smoke, citrus/tangerine greet the nose and persist on the palate with vibrant acidity, medium+ body and long length. I opened up this bottle with dinner featuring tuna steaks on Monday, July 3 (the eve of the July 4th holiday) to celebrate the deep bonds of friendship that my husband and I share with our dear friend Gisela, all of whom greatly appreciated this wonderful wine.

Merry Edwards Olivet Lane Pinot Noir 2021, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $75.00
Redolent of ripe, dark cherries, herbs, cocoa and a hint of leather, this rich and robust wine was dry on the palate with bright acidity, medium+ body and very long length. My friend Rob and I spent the weekend of June 30-July 2 at the Riverwind Inn B&B in Deep River, CT and opened up this bottle to toast our weekend away, sitting on balcony and taking in the view of the property’s gardens.

Merry Edwards Pinot Noir 2021, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $65.00
Very herbal in character, this wine offers up plum and cherries, with notes of both fresh and dried herbs. The dry palate had medium acidity, medium+ body, noticeable yet ripe tannins and long length. While not deliberately opened up in honor of Bastille Day, I did enjoy this wine with dinner with my husband on Friday, July 14. I don’t recall what we ate, but we definitely loved the wine!

Merry Edwards Georganne Pinot Noir 2021, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $70.00
This wine was more fruit driven than the others, but was still quite elegant, with dark cherry aromas and flavors and a slight earthy character. The palate displayed bright acidity, medium+ body and dusty tannins, culminating in long length. I shared this wine on Saturday, September 9 with my aforementioned friend, Rob, at his home in Stamford, CT where we collaborated on creating a delicious lentil and sweet potato dish from the New York Times (find the recipe online here). NB: Dish is pictured above.

Merry Edwards Coopersmith Pinot Noir 2021, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $70.00
This wine displayed floral aromas along with red and black cherries and berries on the nose and palate. It had good acidity, with medium body and long length. As a quiet moment before the hustle and bustle of the week ahead, my husband and I shared this bottle of wine over dinner (pasta with pesto sauce and parmesan cheese) on Sunday, September 10.

Merry Edwards Dach Pinot Noir 2021, Anderson Valley (CA), USA, $75.00
The most structured of the bunch, this wine provided a variety of aromas and flavors including herbs, dark red fruit and earth, with an herbal undercurrent. It had firm tannins, full body and long length on the dry, vibrant palate. While my husband was away for the weekend,
on Friday, September 15, I celebrated the end of my work week with dinner on my own, which consisted of yummy pork chops wrapped in bacon and rosemary and this beautiful wine. Then I continued to enjoy the wine as I binge-watched Glow Up on Netflix.

Wonderful wines for the table

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There are meditation wines, cocktail-party wines and those that are really best enjoyed with food. With the holiday season upon us, the latter two are in particular demand as we head to family gatherings, holiday parties and other social events.

Wines best for the table generally have bright, vibrant acidity, which I have heard by one sommelier described as a “highlighter” of the meal, underscoring the flavor of the food. In this regard, there are a wide variety of choices with all colors (white, orange, rose and red) as well as both the absence and presence of effervescence very welcome in one’s glass.

Here are a wealth of options to consider as you shop the wine aisle or webpage of your favorite retailer or peruse the wine list while dining out.

Sparkling wines
As noted above, sparkling wines are very food friendly and most have beautiful acidity. Moreover, the sparkle in sparkling wines further cleanses the palate and makes them great for toasting at the table. Plus, we can’t discount the fun factor that bubbles add to any occasion, so they are especially appropriate for the celebratory season.

I’ve written about Prosecco Superiore numerous times (see this, this and this) because these are well-made wines at a great price. Produced via the tank method, these wines emphasize fruit and floral aromas and flavors and some have a slight sweetness (but are still decidedly dry) that can pair well with spice.

Albino Armani Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Veneto, Italy $19.99
Aromas and flavors of floral and pear, with nice consistent perlage, freshness on the palate, culminating in long length.

White and Orange Wines
Many white wines are good pairing partners due to their acidity, light to medium body and range of flavors to mix and match with what is being served. This is equally true of Chardonnay, plus it has some additional characteristics which work well with food such as its fuller body, which means it can stand up to richer, heavier fare. Similarly, those Chardonnays with buttery or woody notes are great options if you wish to echo these flavors in the food. For example, a rich, buttery Chardonnay paired with lobster tails in a creamy butter sauce.

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.

Another “white” variety with some chameleon properties is Pinot Grigio (also known as Pinot Gris). In fact, the grape is not white, but rather gray (hence its name — both grigio and gris translate as gray in Italian and French, respectively). Yet, it can be produced in shades of white as well as orange.

Albino Armani Corvara Pinot Grigio 2019, Valdadige DOC, Italy, $14.99
Notes of smoke and tangerine give way to pear and minerality on the dry palate, with medium acidity, medium+ body and long length.

About Albino Armani
Albino Armani is a family-owned winery with five wineries situated in Northeast Italy and is particularly well regarded as a producer of Pinot Grigio (the family has been producing it for 400 years). In fact, Mr. Armani is presently President of the Consorzio Pinot Grigio delle Venezie.  He believes that the best climate for this grape is a cool climate with temperatures that range 55-59F, otherwise the resulting wines are lacking in acidity. In this regard, the Alto Adige region is perfect with its continental climate, good diurnal shifts and extended daylight hours. He produces several Pinot Grigio wines, including two single vineyard bottlings: one from the Corvara Vineyard and the other from the Colle Ara Vineyard. 

Found within Valdadige, the Corvara Vineyard is surrounded by mountains, whose limestone rock reflects sunlight onto the vines. Constant winds from these mountains and nearby Lake Garda help ward off disease.

From the Colle Ara Vineyard within the Terra dei Forti denomination (which was created 25 years ago), Albino produces a ramato style Pinot Grigio. Pale copper in color, this hue of this wine stems from skin contact: the grape juice is macerated with the grape skins for a brief period of time leaching color from the skins.  Recalling the wines of his childhood, Albino sought to reintroduce this traditional production method in creating this wine.

Lighter-bodied Reds: Schiava and Pinot Noir
Lighter bodied reds, especially ones with bright acidity, are another terrific option since they won’t overpower the food, but still have freshness to cleanse the palate. Two such grapes that fit this bill are Schiava and Pinot Noir.

Certainly not a household name (at least not yet), the Schiava grape variety
(also known as Vernatsch or Trollinger) hails from the Alto Adige region of Italy, where It has been cultivated since the 16th century. The variety is also grown in Germany, especially in the Baden-Wurttemberg area. Overall, these wines are lighter bodied, dry reds with aromas and flavors of berries, almonds and violets.

Today, the grape is finding renewed favor in the region, with more attention paid to quality both in the vineyard areas and in the winery. Thankfully, many older (80-100 year old) vines still exist, which adds complexity to the wines. With their vibrant acidity, light body and low tannins, Schiava wines are well suited to a wide range of cuisine including charcuterie, cheeses, pasta dishes, pizza as well as Asian cuisine.

Alois Lageder Vernatsch – Schiava 2020, Alto Adige, Italy, ~$20.00
Pale garnet in color, this wine has a stunning nose of cranberry and earth. The palate is dry, with tart acidity, medium- body and flavors of earth, cranberry, pomegranate, and smoke, finishing with medium+ length.

Castel Sallegg Wine Estate Schiava Bischofsleiten 2020 Sudtirol, Alto Adige Lago di Caldaro Scelto Classico, ~$20.00
Slight herbal aromas on the nose become more pronounced on the dry palate and are joined by cherry and berry notes. High acidity, medium body and long length. This was beautiful with roasted chicken.

Likewise, Pinot Noir is a quintessential quaffer at the table. With its bright acidity and depth of flavors from fruity to floral and herbal to earthy, it provides a robust palette from which to pair various dishes. Moreover, the range of styles currently produced (cooler climate vs. warmer climate) adds to the options from which to choose.

About Merry Edwards

I've once again had the pleasure of tasting through a number of Merry Edwards single vineyard Pinot Noirs, which I've discussed previously (see here, here and here). It was wonderful to revisit some favorites, especially the Bucher Vineyard.

Merry Edwards PINOT NOIR 2019, Sonoma Coast(CA), USA, $54.00
Aromas of cherries, earth and spice repeat on the palate, along with flavors of plum and berry. The dry palate has medium acidity, medium body, soft tannins, and long length. 

Merry Edwards BUCHER PINOT NOIR 2018, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $63.00
This wine offers up deeper, darker notes of spice, black cherries and an undercurrent of earth, with bright acidity, medium+ body, medium tannins and very long length.
 
Merry Edwards MEREDITH ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2018, Russian River Valley (CA), USA, $80.00
Red and black fruit and slight herbal notes pervade the nose, while the dry, yet very ripe palate presents flavors of black cherry, spice, and dried herbs, with medium acidity, medium to full body, ripe tannins and long length.

Yet, even with the fruitier styles of Pinot Noir available in the market, they might not be the perfect foil for heartier fare. For dishes such as beef stews and pork chops, one might prefer a full-bodied red with good acidity, ripe tannins and lovely fruit flavors such as an Amarone or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Albino Armani Amarone Riserva Cuslanus 2015, Veneto, Italy, $59.99
Beautiful nose, showing some development, with spice, wood, dried cherries and plum. The dry palate offered up medium+ acidity, medium+-to-full body and long length.

To learn more about Valpolicella and Amarone, please see this issue of Drinking Wisely & Well.




A very Merry and bright future ahead

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Over the past year-plus, I have had the privilege of becoming familiar with the Merry Edwards Winery and its wines. Tasting through the single vineyard Pinot Noirs, I continue to be impressed with the quality, character and elegance of these various expressions of this grape as influenced by each unique terroir. 

As I discovered during the Gary Farrell tasting, the Russian River Valley has such a diversity of microclimates that the Russian River Valley Winegrowers have created six smaller areas they refer to as neighborhoods within the boundaries of the region to more accurately reflect these differences.

In this regard, the most recent selection of wines I tasted included selections from four different vineyards, including Georganne (Middle Reach), Olivet Lane (Santa Rosa Plains), Klopp (Laguna Ridge) and Coopersmith (Laguna Ridge), as well as the Russian River Valley Pinot, which is produced from grapes sourced from throughout the Valley.

Of course, while the vineyards’ locations within a given neighborhood (and hence microclimate) will influence the finished wine, it is also the soil, site and other growing factors that make the wines from each vineyard unique from another.

In addition to the beauty within each bottle, the most recent releases also sport new labels. These new designs preserve the spirit of the original, while freshening up the brand’s look. More importantly, the intention is to focus on the future with a positive outlook and much hope.

At a time when things are so in flux, we could all use more hope and desire for a bright future. As Merry Edwards Winery continues to craft such amazing wines, its future is bright indeed!

These wines are a perfect way to celebrate National Pinot Noir Day (August 18). Plus, you can participate in a special virtual tasting featuring Merry Edwards’ winemaker, Heidi von der Mehden, and Karen MacNeil, author of the “The Wine Bible,”

The two will be live on Zoom on Wednesday, August 18th @ 4 PM PDT and will taste:
– 2019 Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir
– 2019 Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
– 2019 Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

If you wish to participate in this free event, register in advance online: https://www.merryedwards.com/special-offers

TASTING NOTES

These wines are available for purchase on the Merry Edwards’ website.

Merry Edwards Winery Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley(CA), US, $60.00
Spice and floral aromas greet the nose. The dry, yet juicy, palate offers up bright acidity, ripe raspberries, rhubarb, an herbal undercurrent, along with soft tannins, medium body, and very long length.

Merry Edwards Winery Coopersmith Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley (CA), US, $73.00
This vineyard, originally an apple orchard, was purchased by Merry and her husband (Ken Coopersmith) in 1999 and planted it to Pinot in 2001. Earthy, cherry and cocoa notes greet the nose and persist on the palate, with high acidity, medium body, soft tannins and very long length.

Merry Edwards Winery Georganne Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley, $70.00
Merry first leased this vineyard in 2006 from Georganne and Bob Proctor. As a sign that this collaboration was meant to be, Ken and Merry’s middle names are George and Ann, respectively. On the nose, this wine presents smoky, earthy and herbal aromas, with a generous palate of rich, round fruit — raspberries and cherries — joined by
herbaceous and a slight menthol note, with medium acidity, medium body, and very long length.

Merry Edwards Winery Klopp Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley (CA), US, $74.00
Originally planted in 1989, Merry has been involved with this vineyard from the very beginning. With the small berry clusters that this vineyard produces, the wines generally provide dark fruit and earthy notes. Aromas of dark cherries and blueberry persist on the dry palate, along with hints of herbs and earth, vibrant acidity and medium+ body, culminating in very long length.

Merry Edwards Winery Olivet Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley (CA), US, $80.00
Planted in 1973, Merry has been producing an Olivet Lane Pinot since 1997. On the nose, this wine displays floral, cherry and dried herbal notes. The palate is dry with medium+ acidity, firm, ripe tannins and medium+ body, with rich and concentrated tart cherry, herbs, earthy, and a black tea undercurrent, with very long length.