($120):  This special bottling, a blend of the best barrels from selected vineyards, celebrates Merry Edwards’ 20th vintage under her name.  Aside from the sheer deliciousness of the wine, it makes an important point — single vineyard wines are not always superior to those made from a blend of several vineyards.  The densest and most brooding of her 2016 Pinot Noirs, it is still not overdone or over the top.  It delivers an alluring combination of dark fruit flavors, dark minerality and spice.  Even though all her 2016s have a lovely texture, this one is the most velvety and refined.  The contrast between the power and elegance is extraordinary.  It’s the one wine in her line up of 2016 Pinot Noirs that I would suggest cellaring for a couple of years at least to allow its flavors to unfold.  But, hey, there are four others you can drink while waiting for this one.  
97 Michael ApsteinDec 11, 2018