2011 Angel Wing Pinot Noir

Winemaker's Comments

In 2011 I was once again inspired to make a special Pinot Noir in honor of my son Warren’s memory. In this small lot of wine, I found something that spoke to me about the kind of a young man he would have been by now, if circumstances had been different. This is the way mothers relate to their disabled children -- they want to visualize them as vital, strong and whole.

For this remembrance, I have selected 10 distinctive barrels from our Meredith Estate Vineyard in Sebastopol. The boldest wine in 2011 came from a block of grapes planted to my own Merry’s clone of Pinot Noir: UCD 37. When I selected the original budwood, I was a young winemaker at Mount Eden, just the same age Warren would have been today.

The deep, dark color of this wine portends a bold and weighty Pinot. Savory roasted coffee and toasty oak complement a concentrated core of blueberry jam and blackberry pie. Layers of cassis, boysenberries, blue plums, cocoa and a touch of licorice expand this first impression.

The rare Angel Wing productions are meant to last, like memories, a very long time. We experience this potential in the ripe palate full of chewy tannins, which over time will soften and build an even more extended, rich finish.

Please raise a glass of Angel Wing and celebrate the lives of those we love, remembering that once planted in our hearts, love lives forever.

Critical Acclaim

96 points

"(T)his is a monumental Pinot Noir, in the best sense of the word. One whiff predicts its grandeur. What follows is a glorious explosion of flavors — smoky, fruity, earthy — that flow seamlessly one into another. A hefty wine, its silky, velvety texture reinforces its overall gracefulness. Unlike red Burgundy, which I characterize as “flavor without weight,” Merry Edwards’ Angel Wing definitely has weight, but it’s not in what I call the “Pinot Syrah” category. Fresh and clean, its brightness makes it a joy to drink now. It’s a worthy tribute. Michael Apstein, Wine Review Online, March 3, 2015

93 points

"Rich, ripe black cherry, cassis and spice on a dense, meaty texture, with lovely notes of toasty oak. Anthony Dias Blue, The Tasting Panel magazine, December 2014

93 points

“A special bottling made by the producer to honor her late son, this wine is dark and brooding, offering a depth and warmth of baked plum and blackberry seasoned in cardamom, with a satisfying finish of coffee. With sizable tannin and oak, it suggests cellaring through 2022–2025 to enjoy further its complexity and concentration.” Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast, June 2015

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2011 Angel Wing Pinot Noir

Merry Edwards Wines