2023 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Regular price $54.98

Quantity

93 James Suckling - A rich and dark-fruited wine with complex aromas of brooding black cherries, resinous herbs and mint. The palate is juicy, with broad tannins and flavors of cherries, sage and black tea. Medium- to full-bodied.

Founded in 1997 by pioneering winemaker Merry Edwards, the winery has become one of California's benchmark producers of Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Edwards was among the first women to earn a degree in fermentation science from UC Davis and helped shape the modern identity of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir through her work at Mount Eden, Matanzas Creek, and her own estate. Her unwavering commitment to meticulous vineyard selection, gentle winemaking, and expressing site-specific character established a standard that continues today. Though the winery is now part of the Champagne Louis Roederer family, it remains dedicated to Merry Edwards' original vision: producing wines that combine richness, precision, and an unmistakable sense of place.

The 2023 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley beautifully captures the hallmark richness of Russian River Valley while retaining the elegance and balance that have defined the winery for decades. Produced from a selection of estate vineyards and longtime grower partners, the cool, extended 2023 growing season allowed the fruit to ripen slowly, preserving freshness and aromatic complexity.

The wine opens with inviting aromas of ripe Bing cherry, cherry cola, raspberry, caramel, rose petals, and forest floor, accented by subtle hints of baking spice and cocoa. On the palate, it is silky and layered, offering flavors of red cherry, wild strawberry, black tea, pine, and dried cocoa wrapped around fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. A judicious nine months in French oak adds polish without overwhelming the fruit, leading to a long, refined finish marked by mineral tension and lingering spice. Rich enough to satisfy lovers of classic Russian River Pinot yet graceful enough to reward Burgundy enthusiasts, this is a wine that is both immediately appealing and capable of evolving beautifully over the next 8–10 years.

Shipping Policy

Open tab

Unless your delivery address is on the West Coast, we strongly discourage you from selecting “Ground Service” as your shipping method. During the winter and summer months, weather conditions (temperature) and longer delivery times can often result in the spoilage of your order. It doesn’t make sense to invest in fine wines and then take the chance of ruining them due environmental factors during transit (faster and safer delivery generally isn’t much more expensive). We don’t make an additional profit on accelerated delivery, but we frequently recommend faster shipping options to our customers outside the West Coast.
You must be 21 years of age to order or receive alcoholic beverages. Any shipments containing alcoholic beverages are sent with an “Adult Signature Required” sticker, and the common carrier that delivers our merchandise is required to ask and check for identification upon delivery. This means that an adult will have to be present at the time of delivery. Please consider shipping to an office address.
During periods of extreme weather, we attempt to ship wines at the beginning of each week in order to get shipments to you before the weekend. This is because we have no control over the temperature conditions at our freight carriers’ warehouses. The result may be that your shipment doesn’t go out the day that you place an order.
We ship by Fedex or Fedex Ground. Our prices include packaging materials. Insurance may be available for an additional charge.
Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. will arrange for shipment on behalf of the buyer, to an address specified by the buyer, provided that Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. in its sole judgment believes that such shipment will not subject Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. to the risk of any sort of legal action or other harm. If a buyer lives in a state where the direct shipment of wine by Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. violates the law, we suggest that the buyer provide an alternative address in another state or have their wine shipped to a third-party storage facility in a direct shipping-friendly state.
Various states impose limitations on the quantity of alcoholic beverages that may be purchased and brought into their jurisdiction by a purchaser from another state without requiring the purchaser, a seller or shipper to possess certain licenses or permits. Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. does not, as a condition of sale, assume any obligation nor bear any responsibility whatsoever for applying or obtaining any permits or licenses. Therefore, we recommend that you investigate the possibility of such limitations, and determine the manner in which alcoholic beverages shall be brought into your state from California, so as to comply with all of your state’s requirements.
Wine shipping rules in the United States are controlled by the state you live in. We do not ship wine to the following states at this time: