Martin Ray Tina Marie Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Barrel Auction) 2015
-
James
Suckling
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Located on a southeast facing knoll in the geographical heart of Green Valley. Tina Marie Vineyard produces quintessential Green Valley Pinot Noir: silky but powerful, concentrated yet balanced. The vineyard is planted with classic Dijon clones (667, 115, 777 and 828) in the fluffy Gold Ridge sandy loam soil, and lovingly cared for by Ron Black. It delivers focused blueberry and blackberry fruit, great weight in the mouth, and food-friendly balance. This vintage is open-top fermented, the placed in 50% new French oak chosen specifically to promote the best traits of the fruit. Normally the wine from this special place goes into Martin Ray’s limited release, premium Green Valley offering, but this bottling was created specifically for the collector that seeks world-class Pinot Noir.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A solid California pinot with wet earth, spice and mushroom character. Full body, tight and fruity with medium polished tannins. Velvety. Smoky, chocolate and walnut undertones.
The name Martin Ray resonates deeply in the history of California Winemaking. Martin Ray was a pioneer, dedicated to crafting single varietal, region specific wine from 1943 through 1972 in Saratoga, in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mentored by Paul Masson, he took a Burgundian approach to his winemaking, and developed what is now one of the most historical properties in California, known as Mount Eden.Nearly twenty years later, Courtney Benham stumbled upon 1500 cases of Martin Ray wine in a San Jose warehouse. Recognizing his good fortune, and his intent and drive to produce terroir driven wines, Ray’s historical significance and philosophy resonated with him. Courtney purchased the brand, and since 1990 has been committed to the production of artisanal wines worthy of the Martin Ray name.In 2003, Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery made its home in the Russian River Valley, one of the oldest continually working wineries in California. Today, Courtney and his winemaking team devote themselves to Ray’s ideology of making “wines of place”. They are relentlessat telling the story of wine. The depth of the portfolio offers those seeking a unique experience the chance to explore some of the most revered regionsin California. Fromthe Russian River Valley to Napa Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains, there is an abundance of phenomenal growing regions, great farming, and meticulous detail to vintages.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Situated on the foggier and colder western edge of the Russian River Valley, almost abutting the Sonoma Coast appellation, Green Valley is one of California’s most reputable Chardonnay and Pinot noir producing regions. It is also a wonderful source of sparkling wines made from these varieties.
Goldridge soils abound throughout the Green Valley appellation. This fine, dark, sandy loam and fractured sandstone is derived from the remains of ancient inland seabeds dating back three to five million years. It is valuable for high quality grape growing because of its excellent drainage and low fertility.