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2019 | WE 94 Creamy red fruit and light stemmy spice adorn this soft, silky wine from coastal sites. It shows an opulent mouthfeel and teases of rose and forest floor. Cranberry, pomegranate and rhubarb come to mind on the palate, as full-bodied tannins and oak contrast it all. 2023 | 4.3 V The Merry Edwards Winery 2023 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir features gentle aromas of cedar, vanilla, and Bing cherry, complemented by floral notes of freesia, violets, and a silky entry.   About Winery Merry Edwards Winery was founded in 1997 and produces terroir-driven, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, including the winery flagship Meredith Estate, from 80 acres of estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Over two decades, as Merry assembled this stellar collection of vineyards, she employed meticulous attention to detail to become known for crafting Pinot Noirs of immense depth, elegant structure and exceptional longevity. The winery also makes three appellation wines. The Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs showcase the art of blending. These core wines highlight the best qualities of each AVA and are made to be approachable from release. The winery’s fragrant, barrel-aged Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc is among the most sought after made in California. A single-vineyard Chardonnay from the venerable Olivet Lane Vineyard and Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc round out the portfolio. Now a Certified California Sustainable Winery, the brand entered a new chapter after Merry’s retirement in 2020. 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. One of California’s first woman winemakers, Merry Edwards began her career in 1974 after graduating with a master’s degree from UC Davis’ winemaking program. She worked as winemaker for multiple brands, including Mount Eden and Matanzas Creek, and consulted for dozens of wineries before creating the Merry Edwards label in 1997. She was integral in putting Russian River Pinot Noir on the map over the next decade and completed construction of her own winery on the site of her Coopersmith Vineyard in 2008. She was among the first California winemakers to embrace the importance of clonal selection and firmly believed that site-specific, terroir-driven viticulture was the only way to achieve broad success. Merry had begun her quest to acquire complete control over the winemaking process in 1996, when she purchased land in the Sebastopol Hills of Russian River Valley that would become the winery’s premier single-vineyard Pinot Noir bottling, Meredith Estate. Her decision to follow this path would prove to be prescient. When Merry decided to retire and sell the winery, among the suitors was Champagne Louis Roederer, since the 200-year-old company’s winemaking philosophy mirrors that which Merry embraced her entire career. It was a match made in Heaven. In 2018, Merry named Heidi von der Mehden as her successor. Heidi had trained with Merry since 2015 and had been a key player at such notable Sonoma County wineries as Mauritson and Arrowood, where she was winemaker. Heidi’s drive and talent, love of the challenging Pinot Noir grape and her commitment to Merry’s winegrowing principles ensure the continuation of this legendary brand. Heidi employs gentle, traditional, labor-intensive winemaking practices, the same processes developed and perfected by Merry Edwards using no shortcuts. In the winery, all Pinot fermentation tanks are open-top, but fully convertible to closed-topped tanks for blending and storage. Each tank is heated and cooled at the flip of a switch so that proper cold soaking, warming prior to yeast inoculation and any desired extended maceration can be achieved. Punch downs by hand have evolved to a unique, pneumatic stainless steel foot operated by a joy stick. This allows repeatable, consistent and thorough management of the fermenting Pinot Noir cap. All of the color, flavor and tannins so carefully vine grown can then be captured by full extraction. The Pinot Noirs age solely in French oak cooperage for approximately 10 months. For the Sauvignon Blanc, full fermentation takes place in French oak barrels, 18% new, which moderates green flavors. Elevage in barrel also allows for a twice-weekly lees-stirring protocol, vital to developing rich mout

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Winemaker Notes The sensational 2019 vintage rightfully has been receiving early praise in our region. The moderately warm days long into the growing season yielded high flavors, mouth-filling dark fruited wines, and plush, soft tannins across the Skipstone lineup. Immediately giving on both the nose and the palate, Preface is a delightfully enjoyable wine. A sweet core of plum, cherry and fig anchors the wine on the palate with supporting notes of aged leather, pomegranate, and balsamic reduction. A deft use of oak during the aging process adds hints of powdered cocoa and cedar. This serious wine persists on the palate that carries the dense fruit through to a strong, lingering finish. About Winery Skipstone is tucked between two stunning hillsides in the mountains above Alexander Valley. We aspire to perfection in every aspect of our wine growing and estate farming, drawing inspiration from the unparalleled potential and promise of the earth. Uncompromising in our standards of sustainability and treatment of the land, we are committed to nurturing the precious resource that is our 200 acre estate. Blessed by nature, we listen intently to the terroir of our vineyards, and in turn, our wines speak eloquently of their origin.

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2020 | WE 95 Vibrant fruits, subtle herb and oak accents and nervy acidity bring an elegant but powerful expression to this focused, delicious and just slightly restrained wine. Great balance, moderate tannins and the fruit intensity all indicate more enjoyment with time. About Winery Merry Edwards Winery was founded in 1997 and produces terroir-driven, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, including the winery flagship Meredith Estate, from 80 acres of estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Over two decades, as Merry assembled this stellar collection of vineyards, she employed meticulous attention to detail to become known for crafting Pinot Noirs of immense depth, elegant structure and exceptional longevity. The winery also makes three appellation wines. The Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs showcase the art of blending. These core wines highlight the best qualities of each AVA and are made to be approachable from release. The winery’s fragrant, barrel-aged Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc is among the most sought after made in California. A single-vineyard Chardonnay from the venerable Olivet Lane Vineyard and Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc round out the portfolio. Now a Certified California Sustainable Winery, the brand entered a new chapter after Merry’s retirement in 2020. 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 futur

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PRE-ORDER 2016 WA | 95 Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Gazin features a beautifully perfumed nose of violets, Ceylon tea, cigar box, sandalwood and fallen leaves over a core of plum preserves, kirsch and blackberry preserves plus a waft of aniseed. Medium-bodied and elegant, with compelling restraint, it has a seductively plush texture, finishing with bags of poise, perfume and persistence. 2017 | JS 94 Blueberry and plum aromas here with some flowers and hot stones, too. Complex. Medium body. Juicy fruit in the center palate. Soft, refined tannins and fresh acidity. Lovely complexity and focus. 2018 | JD 97 A brilliant nose of blueberries, candied cherries, wildflowers, tobacco, chocolate, and spice gives way to a stunning Pomerol with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This plush, sexy, opulent Pomerol does everything right.  2019 | V 97 The 2019 has a beguiling bouquet with red berry fruit, truffle and light Provençal herb scents that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. This is exquisite in terms of balance, silky smooth, building gradually with a harmonious and quite effortless finish. Divine - this is a stellar showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. 2020 | JS 96 Lovely texture to this Pomerol. Fine velvety tannins with plum, walnut and crushed stone character. Savory finish. Needs time to soften. Very classy and structured, yet so refined. 2021 | V 95 The 2021 Gazin is a dark, ample wine. Layers of dark fruit, leather, licorice, smoke, tobacco and spice unfurl in the glass. Broad and powerful, the 2021 is super-impressive in this tasting. If there is a name to watch in Pomerol, it is Gazin. About Winery The Chateau Gazin vineyards cover 64.2 acres in a single lot, with 56.8 acres under vines, located on the renowned clay-gravel plateau of Pomerol. The estate can produce up to 100,000 bottles a year. A second AOC Pomerol wine "l’Hospitalet de Gazin", was created in 1986 in order to reserve the best of the harvest for Chateau Gazin. The grapes are fermented in small cement vats. The wine is aged for 18 months in oak barrels (50% new) according to the Bordeaux tradition: malolactic fermentation in casks, rackings to separate the fine wine from the lees, fining with egg whites and, if necessary, light filtration.

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Winemaker Notes "Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016 is a champagne that unveils a subtle aromatic evolution, beginning with notes of toasted bread, cereals, and hazelnuts, which give way to nuances of gingerbread, marzipan, and barley sugar. In the background, persistent hints of plum, quince, orange blossom, and anise appear, adding complexity and freshness. On the palate, its rounded and elegant texture flows naturally, from a smooth and refined start to a vibrant finish, with citrus flashes that evoke the sweetness of clementine and the freshness of grapefruit. A harmonious and sophisticated journey." About Winery Moët & Chandon, based in the so-called "Champagne capital" of Épernay, is easily the most famous house in the Champagne region. It is one of the largest too, comprising 1150 hectares (2850 acres) of estate vineyards plus more from growers, 28km (17 miles) of cellars and a production capacity of 60 million bottles a year. The house was founded by Claude Moët in 1743. However, his grandson, Jean-Remy Moët, is credited with having brought Champagne to a wider audience and, by the 19th Century, the house was recognized both domestically and internationally. In the 1970s and '80s, Moët & Chandon expanded its empire beyond Champagne, partnering first with Cognac house Hennessy and then with fashion giant Louis Vuitton, forming the well-known luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy –often referred to simply as LVMH. Today, the group owns several other famous wine brands, including Krug and Veuve Clicquot in Champagne, Château Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux, and Cloudy Bay in New Zealand and Cape Mentelle in Western Australia. Moët's house style is fresh and fruit-forward, and the non-vintage Brut is dominated by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with a smaller amount of Chardonnay. Grapes are drawn from 800 different parcels from 230 of the villages in Champagne. This wide range of terroirs to draw from means that blenders have more control over the finished wine, and despite the massive output every year, Moët's wines are remarkably consistent. The majority of processes in the winery are controlled by machine – unsurprising given the scale of production. Moët & Chandon's range is straightforward, comprising of non vintage brut, rosé and demi sec, as well as vintage brut and rosé offerings. Their prestige cuvée is the iconic Dom Pérignon, although over time this has come to be seen as a separate entity, in much the same spirit as Napa Valley icon Opus One. The house has expanded far outside of Champagne, and is currently making sparkling wines in California, Argentina, Brazil and Australia under the Chandon label. Most recently, Moët & Chandon has acquired vineyards in India and China, where they are also finding new markets. 

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Winemaker Notes "With just the right maturity, this Champagne has a toasty character. It is dry, fresh with an orange-zest edge. Drink this poised wine now." About Winery Moët & Chandon, based in the so-called "Champagne capital" of Épernay, is easily the most famous house in the Champagne region. It is one of the largest too, comprising 1150 hectares (2850 acres) of estate vineyards plus more from growers, 28km (17 miles) of cellars and a production capacity of 60 million bottles a year. The house was founded by Claude Moët in 1743. However, his grandson, Jean-Remy Moët, is credited with having brought Champagne to a wider audience and, by the 19th Century, the house was recognized both domestically and internationally. In the 1970s and '80s, Moët & Chandon expanded its empire beyond Champagne, partnering first with Cognac house Hennessy and then with fashion giant Louis Vuitton, forming the well-known luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy –often referred to simply as LVMH. Today, the group owns several other famous wine brands, including Krug and Veuve Clicquot in Champagne, Château Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux, and Cloudy Bay in New Zealand and Cape Mentelle in Western Australia. Moët's house style is fresh and fruit-forward, and the non-vintage Brut is dominated by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with a smaller amount of Chardonnay. Grapes are drawn from 800 different parcels from 230 of the villages in Champagne. This wide range of terroirs to draw from means that blenders have more control over the finished wine, and despite the massive output every year, Moët's wines are remarkably consistent. The majority of processes in the winery are controlled by machine – unsurprising given the scale of production. Moët & Chandon's range is straightforward, comprising of non vintage brut, rosé and demi sec, as well as vintage brut and rosé offerings. Their prestige cuvée is the iconic Dom Pérignon, although over time this has come to be seen as a separate entity, in much the same spirit as Napa Valley icon Opus One. The house has expanded far outside of Champagne, and is currently making sparkling wines in California, Argentina, Brazil and Australia under the Chandon label. Most recently, Moët & Chandon has acquired vineyards in India and China, where they are also finding new markets. 

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Wine Enthusiast , 93 Pts Winemaker NotesAs full bodied as the two stars of the label, Petite Petit is a grandiose, booming, larger-than-life type of wine! Opening the show with aromas of dark fruit, summer strawberries and fig, this wine showcases rich flavors of blackberry, espresso and vanilla bean on the palate. Dark, robust and deeply satisfying!About Winery“Michael” and “David” are Michael and David Phillips, brothers whose family has farmed fruits and vegetables in the Lodi region since the 1850s and cultivated wine grapes for nearly a century. Michael and David constitute the 5th generation of grape growers in the Phillips family, with the 6th generation now joining the family business.The Phillips family likes to emphasize the importance of quality wines with unique and fun labels. Wine makers Adam Mettler, Derek DeVries and Jeff Farthing specialize in producing Lodi’s famous Old Vine Zinfandels, as well as Rhone varietals such as Ancient Vine Cinsault and Syrah for Michael David Winery. Farming with future generations in mind, the Phillips have adopted some of the most progressive sustainable farming practices in the state. All 800 acres of the family’s vineyards are third party certified, and the state’s first per ton bonus was issued for contracted growers to follow in the family’s footsteps. 

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Winemaker Notes "Pink with amber highlights. A lively, intense bouquet of red fruits (wild strawberry, raspberry, cherry), floral nuances of rose with a slight hint of pepper. On the palate, the juicy, persistent intensity of berries with the fleshiness and firmness of peach. The freshness of a subtle note of menthol." About Winery Moët & Chandon, based in the so-called "Champagne capital" of Épernay, is easily the most famous house in the Champagne region. It is one of the largest too, comprising 1150 hectares (2850 acres) of estate vineyards plus more from growers, 28km (17 miles) of cellars and a production capacity of 60 million bottles a year. The house was founded by Claude Moët in 1743. However, his grandson, Jean-Remy Moët, is credited with having brought Champagne to a wider audience and, by the 19th Century, the house was recognized both domestically and internationally. In the 1970s and '80s, Moët & Chandon expanded its empire beyond Champagne, partnering first with Cognac house Hennessy and then with fashion giant Louis Vuitton, forming the well-known luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy –often referred to simply as LVMH. Today, the group owns several other famous wine brands, including Krug and Veuve Clicquot in Champagne, Château Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux, and Cloudy Bay in New Zealand and Cape Mentelle in Western Australia. Moët's house style is fresh and fruit-forward, and the non-vintage Brut is dominated by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with a smaller amount of Chardonnay. Grapes are drawn from 800 different parcels from 230 of the villages in Champagne. This wide range of terroirs to draw from means that blenders have more control over the finished wine, and despite the massive output every year, Moët's wines are remarkably consistent. The majority of processes in the winery are controlled by machine – unsurprising given the scale of production. Moët & Chandon's range is straightforward, comprising of non vintage brut, rosé and demi sec, as well as vintage brut and rosé offerings. Their prestige cuvée is the iconic Dom Pérignon, although over time this has come to be seen as a separate entity, in much the same spirit as Napa Valley icon Opus One. The house has expanded far outside of Champagne, and is currently making sparkling wines in California, Argentina, Brazil and Australia under the Chandon label. Most recently, Moët & Chandon has acquired vineyards in India and China, where they are also finding new markets. 

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Winemaker Notes The 2018 Del Dotto The Beast Cabernet Sauvignon is an intense, multi-appellation barrel selection featuring ripe blackberry, concentrated blueberry, and rich structured tannins. About Winery Although the Del Dotto story begins on our Rutherford Estate, it has expanded to include seven other specially selected appellations. Currently our footprint consists of 437 acres with 121 acres planted of varietals including chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and sangiovese. It took 18 years to find the ideal sites to cultivate each individually selected grape clone and to maximize the terroir flavors in the wines. Each vineyard is organically farmed, with no chemical sprays or fertilizers, and all weeding performed by hand. The plants are meticulously cared for by professional vineyard workers in order to maintain the quality of the crop that defines the Del Dotto reputation.

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Tasting notes This Chateau Gazin 2015 is a powerful, long and balanced wine. The nose has aromas of black fruit followed by tannins still present that will melt in the coming months. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 94-96 The 2015 Gazin has a perfumed bouquet with layers of black cherry, raspberry coulis and truffle scents, more welcoming and sensual than the wines a decade ago from barrel when they intermittently felt under-ripe. There is none of that here for sure. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit on the entry. There is excellent structure here, a masculine Gazin with plenty of grip, counterbalanced by abundant tertiary, tobacco-tinged black fruit. There is real salinity towards the finish, completing a superb wine by Nicolas de Bailliencourt and his team. Do not overlook this Pomerol. It is one of the subtler expressions of the 2015 vintage and one that I am sure will develop beautifully in cask. Neal Martin - RP, #224, April 2016 About Winery The Chateau Gazin vineyards cover 64.2 acres in a single lot, with 56.8 acres under vines, located on the renowned clay-gravel plateau of Pomerol. The estate can produce up to 100,000 bottles a year. A second AOC Pomerol wine "l’Hospitalet de Gazin", was created in 1986 in order to reserve the best of the harvest for Chateau Gazin. The grapes are fermented in small cement vats. The wine is aged for 18 months in oak barrels (50% new) according to the Bordeaux tradition: malolactic fermentation in casks, rackings to separate the fine wine from the lees, fining with egg whites and, if necessary, light filtration.

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Winemaker Notes Dominus Estate is the Napa Valley property of Bordeaux producer Christian Moueix. The wine is bottled from the historic Napanook Vineyard. Located at the foothills of the Mayacamas, the vineyard was planted in 1838 and continues to evolve under the stewardship of Christian Moueix. The estate’s Bordeaux varietals benefit from the Yountville microclimate where temperatures are moderated by cool breezes from the San Pablo Bay. The resulting wine is a uniquely refined expression of this special terroir. About Winery The vineyards of Dominus Estate have connections to the original history of the Napa Valley as they date back to the mid 1850’s, or even earlier, when it was first cultivated. At the time, it was known as the Napanook vineyard.  In the late 1960s, while attending the University of California at Davis, Christian Moueix fell in love with the Napa Valley and its wines. Son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, the famed wine merchant and producer from Libourne, France, Moueix returned home in 1970 to manage the family vineyards, including Chateaux Petrus, La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy in Pomerol and Magdelaine in St. Emilion. His love of Napa Valley lingered and in 1981, he discovered the historic Napanook vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville that had been the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines of the 1940s and 1950s. In 1982, Moueix entered into a partnership with Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, the daughters of John Daniels who owned the vineyard. In 1995, he became the sole owner of the estate and chose the name Dominus, or “Lord of the Estate” in Latin to underscore his longstanding commitment to stewardship of the land. One of the most respected wine producers in the world, Christian Moueix is on a personal quest for perfection in grape growing and winemaking. It is a journey that began in Bordeaux and continues today at Dominus Estate.

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Winemaker Notes Dominus 2008 is a wine of great purity and definition, with distinct berry aromas and a supple yet precise palate. Deep blackberry and dark plums complement fine mineral notes. This wine is intensely perfumed, velvety and ethereal. Decant the wine prior to serving, to allow it to develop its full potential. This is especially important when serving young Dominus wines. About Winery The vineyards of Dominus Estate have connections to the original history of the Napa Valley as they date back to the mid 1850’s, or even earlier, when it was first cultivated. At the time, it was known as the Napanook vineyard.  In the late 1960s, while attending the University of California at Davis, Christian Moueix fell in love with the Napa Valley and its wines. Son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, the famed wine merchant and producer from Libourne, France, Moueix returned home in 1970 to manage the family vineyards, including Chateaux Petrus, La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy in Pomerol and Magdelaine in St. Emilion. His love of Napa Valley lingered and in 1981, he discovered the historic Napanook vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville that had been the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines of the 1940s and 1950s. In 1982, Moueix entered into a partnership with Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, the daughters of John Daniels who owned the vineyard. In 1995, he became the sole owner of the estate and chose the name Dominus, or “Lord of the Estate” in Latin to underscore his longstanding commitment to stewardship of the land. One of the most respected wine producers in the world, Christian Moueix is on a personal quest for perfection in grape growing and winemaking. It is a journey that began in Bordeaux and continues today at Dominus Estate.

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