Winemaker Notes
You'll first notice the beautiful garnet color followed by fragrances of vanilla cola, black raspberry, fresh thyme and plum compote. On entry, the mouthfeel is soft and lush, with notes of black cherry, plum, cassis and milk chocolate. Juicy acidity bonds with structured tannins and lifts the long, spicy finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2022 Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir express fruit explosions on the palate. TASTING NOTES: Enjoy its bright and wild red fruits with grilled pork kebabs. (Tasted: May 12, 2024, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
An enticingly ripe version, with a mix of black cherry, raspberry and boysenberry coulis notes joining licorice, bramble and singed apple wood accents. The juicy, engaging finish feels full of life. Drink now through 2032.
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.