TN: 2002 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Olivet Lane

[Tom_Gutting]

• 2002 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Olivet Lane - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/13/2010)
  14.2% alcohol. Dark red color, with the faintest tinge of bricking at the rim of the glass. Rich nose of earth, black cherry, blackberry, and apple skins. In the mouth, delivers a completely different profile than the nose. The fruit profile is that of sharply sour black cherry, with some earthy notes, and a dull hole in the middle palate. Caressing texture, but a bitter finish that just feels like sucking on a grape skin. Too much time on the skins, extracting too much color, so that it outlived the fruit? That’s what I think the past few aged bottles of Merry Edwards I’ve drunk. B

Posted from CellarTracker

[Paul_L_i_n]

Wow, what a disappointment! I personally have had only good experiences with ME wines. The 2003 Sonoma Coast I had last year was outstanding!

[Harry_Gruber]

@Tom Gutting

• 2002 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Olivet Lane - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/13/2010)
  14.2% alcohol. Dark red color, with the faintest tinge of bricking at the rim of the glass. Rich nose of earth, black cherry, blackberry, and apple skins. In the mouth, delivers a completely different profile than the nose. The fruit profile is that of sharply sour black cherry, with some earthy notes, and a dull hole in the middle palate. Caressing texture, but a bitter finish that just feels like sucking on a grape skin. Too much time on the skins, extracting too much color, so that it outlived the fruit? That’s what I think the past few aged bottles of Merry Edwards I’ve drunk. B

Posted from CellarTracker

Tom,

I had the 2002 ME Windsor Gardens back in August and it displayed none of the flaws you describe in the Olivet Lane. To the contrary, it was a delicious wine. I’ve found some of Merry’s Olivet Lanes to be just a bit too brash for my tastes, whereas the Windsor Gardens have been the most restrained and elegant pinots in her stable.

I’m curious; has anyone had any recent experience with her 2003 30th Anniversary bottling? Out of barrel, that was the most stunning Cali pinot I’ve ever tasted.

Cheers,

Harry