WTN: Merry Edwards, Grgich, Havens, Pine Ridge, Moonschlein

Short notes from Wednesday night's get together at the Wine Club with Denny, Arnie, Helen and Johnny.

Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2004 - Very fragrant. Chocolate covered cherries. Slightly meaty. Well balanced. Lively finish. Drinking very well now and a surprisingly good match for the hamburger. Very good.

Grgich Zinfandel 2003 - Very dark. Prunes and raisins. Really hot. Unbalanced by alcohol. Meaty, heavy. Very long finish. Difficult wine to drink. Didn't care for this.

Havens Merlot 2002 - Full, rich, velvety, sweet, ripe, smooth. I thought this was pretty good but no one else seemed to like it.

Pine Ridge Crimson Creek Merlot 2002 - Slightly overoaked. Lots of fruit and a bit of candy. Not bad.

Moonschlein Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 - Light, short, hollow. Slightly acidic and angular. Seems like this is falling apart. Drink it up if you have it. Not showing well.

[Jenise]

Merry makes lovely pinots, doesn't she?

Re the Grgich, one of the most interesting verticals I've ever attended was 20 years of Grgich Zinfandel. This was back in the 90's, so the vintages spanned the prior two decades. It was quite impressive, because none were true dogs, though of course many were markedly better than the others. Now that the weather in Napa seems to be overall much warmer and producing wines of extreme alcohol like the bottle you describe, it's sad to think a vertical like that might never be possible again.

Merry makes lovely pinots, doesn't she?

Yep, I think so.

Re the Grgich, one of the most interesting verticals I've ever attended was 20 years of Grgich Zinfandel. This was back in the 90's, so the vintages spanned the prior two decades. It was quite impressive, because none were true dogs, though of course many were markedly better than the others. Now that the weather in Napa seems to be overall much warmer and producing wines of extreme alcohol like the bottle you describe, it's sad to think a vertical like that might never be possible again.

Although his reputation (and business) certainly rests on his Chardonnay, I've long considered Mike Grgich's Zins to be his most interesting wines. Of course, he now claims that it's because it's a variety he grew up with in Croatia. Whatever...

Mark Lipton

I hope to visit Merry Edwards winery while in Sonoma in a few weeks. I met her and some of her family members at a wine dinner in Raleigh and really admire both her wines and her pioneering as a female UC-Davis grad.

I always thought "Pine Ridge" should be renamed "Oak Ridge," but that's just my opinion.

If you get a chance, try the Havens Hudson Vineyard Syrah. Outstanding and complex!

The Havens Hudson Syrah was on sale last month from another shop but they sold out quickly so I wasn't able to get any. A friend of mine got a few so I hope to persuade him to pop one soon. I also like the Havens Bourriquot.

Jay,

I've only had the 1999 and 2001 Havens Bourriquot. I thought they were pretty good, too.

R