Review: Wines of Merry Edwards, 2026 Releases
Perennial favorite California wine producer Merry Edwards is back with its first bottlings of the year (or late 2025), which we’re rounding up presently. We’ll update this post later in 2026 when the operation’s second wave of wines roll around.
2023 Merry Edwards Chardonnay Anderson Valley – Surprisingly grassy, this pastoral chardonnay as almost astringent as it profiles aromas of sage and intense layers of flowery perfume. Guava and papaya build in short order, showcasing tropical fruit but leaning into its duskier, ruddier side. Less coconut, more coconut husk. B / $x
2023 Merry Edwards Chardonnay Olivet Lane Russian River Valley – More traditional than the Anderson Valley bottling — to the benefit of this wine, which has a more exuberant fruitiness, evoking flavors of green apple, guava, and Meyer lemon, in roughly that order. Creamy and laced with almond notes, almost nougaty at times, the wine has a sultry nuttiness, evoking coconut cream late into the experience. A gentle acidity and salinity on the finish perk everything up and give it an added lift, taking everything out nice and easy. A / $70
2023 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – The “stock” pinot from Merry Edwards is this one, with a green capsule, and it’s far from worth turning your nose up at. Bright cherry fruit is balanced with biting acidity and significant notes of black tea, tilting at licorice on the finish. There may be less complexity in this bottle but what’s present remains on point, eventually homing in on its brooding, leathery underbelly. It’s a nice little ride at a great price. A- / $50
2023 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Mendocino County – The other non-single-vineyard pinot noir in this lineup is another winner, bright with cherry but layered with cola notes, verging on bittersweet chocolate as the finish comes into focus. In between look for a sprinkle of ground cloves, and both green and black tea notes. Undulating and quite rich, late-stage hints of anise recall the RRV bottling, though there’s a lingering rhubarb-meets-cherry acidity that keeps things livelier than you might think, given all of the above. A- / $55
2023 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Russian River Valley – Perhaps the most versatile wine in this collection, this pinot expresses its vibrant fruit — blueberry and cherry in equal proportions — while holding space for touches of tea leaf and coffee, an echo of sweet stroopwafels lingering to plump things up. The finish sees notes of anise and a gentle balsamic character emerging, adding nuance. A / $77
2023 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Dach Anderson Valley – Surprisingly creamy in texture, this silky operator leans into chocolate and tobacco notes, creating its own version of a Mexican chocolate character. Dried raspberry and some ground coffee notes add later-game intrigue, with a simple twist of orange peel emerging on the finish. Throughout it all, mild spices endure, with a lazy cinnamon and vanilla character weaving in and out of the experience. One of Merry Edwards’ quietest pinot noir experiences. A- / $75
2023 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Georganne Russian River Valley – Impressive fruit notes lead the way on this wine, with a plump mix of strawberry and raspberry instantly firing brightly. Dried flowers add a perfumed note that winds its way eventually to a palate that features dried spearmint and a whiff of licorice, giving the finish a gentle earthiness and a more aggressive disposition than its fruity attack would suggest. A- / $72
2023 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Coopersmith Russian River Valley – One of Merry Edwards’ most brooding pinots in this collection, this is a very earthy expression of the grape, showcasing slightly underripe cherries dusted in cocoa powder. The wine needs ample time in glass to develop, eventually coaxing out some blueberry notes, wrapped in tea leaves. The finish is drying but never unenjoyable, with touches of anise and coffee adding gravitas to the encounter. B+ / $75
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