Mark West was founded in 1978 with one desire - to craft remarkable Pinot Noir that delivers exceptional quality at an affordable price. Our name, Mark West, is an ode to a region in the heart of Sonoma county, one of the world's best places to grow Pinot Noir. It was here that we started our winery and our passion for Pinot.
Nothing worth obsessing over ever came easy. And that's certainly the case for Pinot Noir. The grape is an interesting one: It's thin-skinned and fickle, which means it's not easy to grow. Even the slightest change in temperature can throw it off, which is why we look for the best cool, dry climates when choosing our vineyards. But, when it's done right, the result is a wonderfully complex wine. The perfect Pinot, in an infinite number of expressions. It's unlike any other grape.
Pinot Noir the grape is hard to grow, and once it enters the winery it's important to have a gentle hand during the winemaking process. Each and every aspect matters, which is why we have devoted ourselves to Pinot Noir—so we can get it right. To make the best Pinot Noir, we first gently destem and crush the grapes when they come into the winery. Daily punch-downs and pump-overs extract flavor and color. And after a light pressing we use French oak to marry the flavors you find naturally in Pinot Noir. At Mark West we focus on quality, and let the grapes speak for themselves. Each harvest is a new adventure, each crop is different, and each year we bring you the wines that you love.
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Long Shadows Saggi Red is made with 58% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Syrah. Among Tuscany's oldest and most prestigious wine families, Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari teamed with Allen Shoup to produce a wine that showcases Washington State's terroir with plenty of Italian character. Saggi (meaning "wisdom") is a stunning blend of two outstanding Washington Sangiovese vineyards. Candy Mountain Sangiovese gives the wine its dark fruit flavors and appealing notes of anise. Dick Boushey's Yakima Valley Sangiovese, planted in 1992, adds vibrancy and liveliness. Because Cabernet Sauvignon has the potential to overtake Sangiovese, the Folonaris work closely with Sagemoor Vineyards to carefully select blocks of Cabernet they know from experience deliver elegant character and refined tannins. Syrah, also from Sagemoor, adds to the wine's dark color and rich mid-palate.
Review:
The 2018 Red Wine Saggi is mostly Candy Mountain Sangiovese (58%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Syrah (12%). Gilles Nicault has created a sensational, one-of-a-kind blend here. The wine explodes out of the glass with potpourri and anise tones alongside a beautiful core of red and dark fruits. The palate offers tobacco, milk chocolate and boysenberry flavors, serious depth and concentration, insanely good range and an opulent sense of texture. Complex and delicious with firm tannins and a touch of hedonism, this sensational and novel blend will provide drinking enjoyment for another 15 years to come.
-Vinous 95 Points
Cazaux Vacqueyras Blanc Les Clefs d'Or is made from 50% Clairette, 30% Roussanne and 20% Grenache Blanc.
A wine with lively acidity, expressive aromas of fennel and white flowers. It is long and full in the mouth with minty and anisy aromas mixed with white peach flavors. Refreshing and mineral character.
Clairette grapes are green harvested to concentrate and harmonize aroma. Each grape varietal is hand picked separately. Pressing with skin contact at low temperature. Aged 12 months in stainless steel tank. (No oak)
Enjoy this wine with all sorts of fish starters, squid salad with olive oil and basil. A must try with fresh oysters.