Winemaker Notes
The first swirl in the glass releases fragrances of white peaches, lime zest, delicate white pineapple and ripe stone fruit. Upon entry, the creamy texture is buoyed by bright acidity. Ruby red grapefruit, white blossoms and citrus flowers linger on the seamless finish.
The beautifully bright and floral nature of this Sauvignon Blanc is perfectly suited to both seafood and Asian-spiced cuisine.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
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Decanter
Pronounced aromatics of lychee and kiwi are intermixed with jasmine and orange blossoms. Sur lie ageing for four months in 18% new French oak with batonnage twice weekly lends a creamy mid-palate richness and weight balanced by refreshing acidity.
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Wine Spectator
Packs ripe, fleshy mango, peach and dried apricot flavors that show terrific focus and persistence, with details of pear, lemon zest, candied ginger and lemongrass. Shows impressive focus on the long finish, with a fresh thread of acidity that keeps the flavors lively and mouthwatering.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc has gregarious scents of apricot, lemongrass and fresh green herbs. The light-bodied palate is concentrated and expressive, its racy acidity balanced by a gently creamy texture, and it has a long, floral finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Floral and buttery aromas open this full-bodied, creamy-textured wine that offers a soft mouthfeel and the roundness that comes from aging on the lees. Concentrated peaches, melons and a good viscosity help the wine stand out.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also pouring a straw color with a hint of green, the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley is more reserved on opening compared to the 2022 and displays a more high-toned and herbaceous profile, with notes of white peach, tarragon, lime zest, and wet stone. Medium-bodied, it has a leaner texture as well, with notes of quince and melon floating on the palate and a clean, if not a bit modest, finish.
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.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.