Home

Today's Wine Review

2023 Merriam Vineyards Chardonnay "Eastside Estate"

Winery: Merriam Vineyards

Vintage: 2023

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Eastside Estate"

Wine Category: Chardonnay

Grape blend: 100% Chardonnay

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Russian River Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $46

Cases produced: 125

KWG Score: 91.5 (based on 2 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (92)

Review date: May 27, 2026

Wine Review: This clear and golden yellow colored Chardonnay from Merriam opens with a mild pineapple and gentle pear bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with integrated medium acidity. The mouthfeel is nicely balanced, very smooth, seamless, and approachable. The flavor profile is a gentle Anjou pear and chalky minerality blend with notes of green tea and pineapple. I also detected hints of saline and oak. The finish is dry, and its flavors and acidity drift away nicely. I would pair this food friendly and versatile Chard with crab cakes. Theresa approved as well! Enjoy – Ken!

Winemaker Notes: Aromas of roasted pear, peach, and tangerine lead into a lively palate of goldenberry, lychee, and lemon custard. Tropical notes unfold alongside hints of crème brûlée and integrated oak, bringing richness without weight. Balanced and expressive, this vintage captures both the vibrancy and grace of our Eastside Estate vineyard, finishing with a kiss of citrus and warm spice.

Buy it: Use Google to find stores that sell this wine

More recent wine reviews

Vina Cobos "Felino" 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon

Appassionata "Allegro" 2021 Pinot Noir

Lasseter "Trinity Ridge" 2024 Sauvignon Blanc

Patent "Diamond Mountain" 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon

Pedroncelli 2025 Rose

See the 100 Latest Reviews

From our blog

Jeremiah Timm – Paul Hobbs Winery – March 2026

On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, we interviewed Jeremiah Timm. Jeremiah is the Director of Winemaking at Paul Hobbs Winery. We covered seven wines during the visit. We started with two Paul Hobbs Chardonnays from the 2023 vintage. Then we covered two 2023 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noirs. We then had a 2023 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon from “Coombsville.” After that we wrapped up the interview and tasting by covering both 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon’s from their Crossbarn project. It was another great tasting! In this post, you can learn what we learned about Jeremiah, the history of the winery, and read our reviews of all of these impressive wines. Read This Blog Post

Winemaker Interview Series – Brian Pruett – Dry Creek Vineyard – Feb 2026

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, we interviewed Brian Pruett. Brian is the winemaker at Dry Creek Vineyard. We covered eight wines during the visit. We started with Chenin Blanc and a single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, both from the 2024 vintage. Then we tried three single-vineyard and one historic-field-blend Zinfandel from the 2022 vintage. As you will recall, we really liked 2022 as a Zinfandel vintage. Finally, we wrapped up with their 2021 Red Blend and their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2022 vintage. It was a great tasting and a lot of fun. In this post, you can learn what we learned about Brian and the history of the winery and read our reviews of all of these impressive wines. Read This Blog Post