Winemaker Notes
This designate, named after my husband, Ken, became a favorite with customers almost as soon as it was first released. Like Ken, the wines are generous and full-bodied, reflecting their UCD37 heritage and terroir, grown here on the sandy Laguna Ridge in Sebastopol. To hold the vigor of the vines in check, the vineyard is farmed without tilling the soil. This allows carbon dioxide to remain sequestered — a real contribution to supporting our environment in this time of climate chaos. The trademark aroma of this luscious Pinot greets us — a profuse mélange of deep, dark fruit highlighted with rich cocoa powder and chocolate. Blackberry preserves, cassis and dark cherry are complemented with black tea, a bit of tar and a hint of roses. Toasty François Frères oak is another signature as this wine chose this cooperage upon its first christening in barrel in 2004. The effect is a pronounced savory aspect of charcuterie and bacon. A showy, expressive Pinot, it has broad, succulent tannins and good acid balance. Cocoa resurfaces and lingers on the finish. This is a powerhouse wine that will release its energy over a long lifetime in bottle. Please enjoy this recipe for Merry’s Crispy Oven Baked Chicken. The skin gets nice and crispy while the sweet potatoes remain moist and succulent. I also make this substituting heritage potatoes from our garden. The juicy chicken and earthiness of the dish are a nice accompaniment to our Coopersmith Pinot. Ken’s Idaho roots also make this an appropriate pairing.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Perfumed aromas of rose and lavender lead the nose of this wine. It shows ample power, density and structure, with flavors of chocolate-covered strawberry and cherry that are cradled with toasted oak
Merry Edwards Winery was founded in 1997 and produces critically acclaimed terroir-driven Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blanc using site-specific viticulture in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations. Over two decades, Merry assembled a stellar collection of vineyards and with her meticulous attention to detail crafted Pinot Noirs of immense depth, elegant structure and exceptional longevity. Her Sauvignon Blanc is among the most sought after in the world.
Now a Certified California Sustainable Winery, the brand entered a new chapter after Merry’s retirement. Merry’s handpicked successor, Winemaker Heidi von der Mehden, and Winery President Nicole Carter have taken up exactly where Merry left off and will continue to make wines treasured by legions of Merry Edwards’ fans well into the future.
While the Russian River Valley is a large appellation with multiple climate zones and soil types, it is best known for cool-climate varieties, with Pinot Noir as the most celebrated. The grapes benefit from a reliable late afternoon flow of Pacific Ocean fog through the Petaluma Gap and along the Russian River Valley that ensures slow and steady ripening and the preservation of grape acidity. Today many of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir vineyards are in the Russian River Valley, along with its sub-appellation, Green Valley.
Historically Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs had bright red fruit and delicate earthy, mineral notes. But changes in viticultural and winemaking practices have led to stylistic changes in some of the region’s wines. Adjustments to canopy management, among other techniques, have resulted in riper fruit and bolder wines as well. These show flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and darker, loamy earth tones, accenting traditional Pinot Noir notes of strawberry, raspberry and light cherry.