Review: Wines of Meyer Family Cellars, 2021 Releases
Meyer Family Cellars is operated by Karen and Matt Meyer, a husband-and-wife winemaking team that sources grapes from a range of California’s AVAs, including Yorkville Highlands, Anderson Valley, and Oakville. Its operations are in Yorkville and its tasting room is further down the road in Mendocino.
Recently we received three new releases from the operation. Let’s try them.
2018 Meyer Family Cellars Chardonnay Donnelly Creek Vineyard – A classic but restrained Anderson Valley chardonnay, showing gentle notes of melon, cookie dough, and lemon curd, all scenery atop a core of baked apples laced with cinnamon. A lemon cookie character dominates the finish, giving this a bright acidity that is a bit surprising, yet wholly welcome. A- / $32
2017 Meyer Family Cellars Syrah Yorkville Highlands – Extremely dry, this wine offers notes of mint to temper its aggressive initial savoriness, fairly classic with its initially meaty syrah elements but touched with notes of licorice, green herbs, and tarry asphalt. Slightly pruny on the finish. On the whole, it’s dusty but accessible, and while it’s quite a solid value, it’s far short of mindblowing. B / $26
2018 Meyer Family Cellars Fluffy Billows Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville – A Napa cabernet — with all the fixins. Surprisingly tart up top, notes of fresh cranberry give way to a dark chocolate note and a sweeter, dried cranberry character as the palate evolves. The finish rolls its way to some traditional notes of graphite and black plums, currants and an edge of spice. Largely straightforward and approachable now, but worth investing in some cellar time. B+ / $54
2017 Meyer Family Cellars Syrah Yorkville Highlands
$26
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