Marcassin Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2013

Review:

Bydand Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast  is made from 100% Pinot Noir

Aged for 16 months in 40% new French oak, 60% neutral French oak

Umino Vineyard is perched atop rolling hills overlooking the Petaluma Gap in Sebastopol, CA. Taking advantage of maritime influence this 11-acre vineyard benefits from warm sunshine throughout the day and cool coastal winds at night. Planted in 1996 to 4 Dijon Clones of Pinot Noir these vines produce wine of purity and balance. Exhibiting rich flavors and aromas of crushed rose petal, raspberry and cherry cola with earthy minerality and lively acidity.

The Stone Corral Vineyard is planted on a southeast slope on the west side of the Edna Valley which has an east/west orientation opening up to the Pacific Ocean from Morro Bay and Pismo Beach. Approximately 120 to 300 feet above sea level, the climate is strongly influenced by the ocean providing ideal temperate growing conditions for Pinot Noir. Early spring warming, mild summer temperatures and late arriving cold fall temperatures and rain provide a long growing season for the development of rich color, concentrated and complex flavors. Soil profiles vary between blocks from sand, sandy loam, loamy sand, pebbly sandy clay loam, all fine angular blocky , including decomposing sandstone layers and numerous fossil rocks. The soils are well drained and marine in origin, resulting in an elegant Pinot Noir with extraordinary attributes.

This gem is a blend of a few precious, select barrels hailing from the finest blocks of Stone Corral Vineyard. Offers blue-toned fruit on the nose and a pretty bouquet of black raspberry, sandstone, marzipan and wild lupine flowers. Opulent, yet delicate on the palate, with velvety layers of cola nut, cherry, dried herbs and pecan sandie cookies.

Wine analysis – 13.7% Alcohol, .69 TA, 3.5pH

- A barrel select Stone Corral Vineyard bottling, utilizing the finest blocks and clones of the 2013 vintage
- Blend of clones 115, 777 and 667 on 101-14 and 3309 rootstalks
- Hand harvested, cold fruit from night picks during the month of September 2013
- Yield about 2 tons per acre between 23.8 and 24.5 ° Brix
- Destemmed with nearly 100 % whole berries remaining
- Fermented in small open top tanks
- 4 day cold soak, average 14 day fermentation, peak temperature 83°
- Hand punched down several times daily as needed
- Pressed off just dry, tank settled then racked to barrels
- Aged in small French oak barrels for 18 months
- Once the fresh wine is transferred from the press pan, all moving of the wine is done with inert gas pressure.
When handling the wine, care is taken at all opportunities to avoid shear.

"This bottling comes from the best blocks and barrels from this single vineyard, co-owned by a number of Edna Valley luminaries. The result is stunning, with baked raspberry, strawberry, maple, and peppery bacon aromas comprising a spicy, exotic nose. Black plum fruit melds with white pepper and crushed herbs, diving into tangy strawberry and sandalwood incense notes on the finish. - Matt Kettmann"
- Wine Enthusiast Magazine (April 1st 2017), 95 pts

Domaine Mus de Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir

Nice red color, with garnet-red shades.
Expressive and charming on the nose with nice flower notes (violet, peony).
On the palate, fresh and round, a fine and elegant red wine on red fruit notes (cranberries, redcurrants), with a beautiful balance. A nice length, with a soft spicy finish. A beautiful Mediterranean expression of the variety.

The average age of the vines is 11 years old.

Traditional winemaking. A very special attention is paid to the health state of the crop, harvested when fully matured. Complete destemming. Macerating in vats during 5 weeks, under heat monitoring. Fermentation under the effect of selected yeasts. End of fermentation under control of the temperature. When the fermenting process is achieved, free-run and press wines are kept separately and sometimes partly or totally blended, according to the vintage aromatic and gustatory expression. Ageing in vats until bottling.

Mateo is the fruit of the friendship between two winemakers (José Ignacio Cuenca & Brian Loring), two countries (Spain & the US) and two worlds (the Old & the New). This wine is a unique blend of California's finest Pinot Noir grapes is dedicated to José Mateo Cuenca Anderson.

Deep ruby color with earthy plum and cherry aromas. Full, rich plum and cherry flavors with baking spice and white pepper notes. Great structure and balance with a long, complex finish.

SALE!

Deep ruby color; dense, deep, herbal berry aromas; deep, ripe, forward berry flavors with moderate oak and tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. Dense and deep Pinot.

Russell Family Vineyard in located in the Templeton Gap area of Paso Robles. It's a relatively warm site for Pinot Noir, but the amazing amount of limestone in the soil allows the vines to retain great acidity.

All traditional Pinot pairings as well as steak and lamb

Review:

Deep ruby color; dense, deep, herbal berry aromas; deep, ripe, forward berry flavors with moderate oak and tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. Dense and deep Pinot that needs a good two hours of air to open up.

Pinot Report 93 Points

"Red cherries laced with crushed allspice and cloves also benefit from dried violets, graphite and loamy soil on the nose of this rare Pinot from Paso. The palate is not quite so boisterous but quite good still, with a bit of concentrated plum juice, Bing cherries, raspberry and a tinge of sagebrush throughout. - Matt Kettmann"

- Wine Enthusiast (August 1st 2015), 93 pts