Review: Wines of Edna Valley Vineyard, Late 2017 Releases

By Christopher Null | December 20, 2017 |

Earlier this year we looked at Edna Valley’s white and rose releases for 2017. Today we tackle three reds, all sourced from Central Coast grapes.

2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir Central Coast – Lots of tobacco and pencil lead on this one, a surprisingly dense rendition of pinot noir, considering its price tag. The palate ultimately turns a bit gamey, with more than a few vegetal notes underpinning the wine’s otherwise black cherry core. B- / $12

2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Merlot Central Coast – Overwhelming with fruit and sugar, this wine is a mess of strawberry and blueberry notes, liberally doused in marshmallow fluff. A good amount of air helps it come to some semblance of balance, but it’s hard-fought to get even there. C- / $15

2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast – This densely chocolatey and blueberry-fueled cab is loaded with toasty marshmallow notes and plenty of vanilla, making it drink a bit closer to dessert than to dinner. That said, there’s enough body and just a touch of tannin here to give the wine enough grip to work well enough at mealtime. B- / $17