Winemaker Notes
On this vintage, delicate aromas of perfumed rose petal and black cherry lift from the glass and are met with hints of smoky oak. There is energy and tension on the palate as black fruits and notes of grilled meats envelop well-structured and elegant tannin's. In tandem, elements of Bing cherry and bergamot deliver a subtle acidity that provides the backbone to complete the wine.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2016 Pinot Noir Mardikian Estate Vineyard, and it comes from a vineyard on the Sonoma Coast and is a mix of clones, was destemmed, and spent 11 months in 38% new French oak. Beautiful sweet red fruits, passion fruit, Christmas spice, and orange rind notes all flow to a medium-bodied, vibrant Pinot Noir that has integrated acidity, fine tannins, and outstanding length. It’s going to benefit from a year or two in bottle and keep for upwards of a decade. Rating: 93+
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Mardikian Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir displays earth-inspired notions of truffles, damp soil and forest floor with a core of black cherries, cinnamon, cloves and pomegranate plus a waft of potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and quite spicy in the mouth, it has a solid frame of velvety tannins and seamless freshness with a very long finish of exotic spice.
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Wine Enthusiast
This estate-grown wine is made in small amounts and is bursting with complexity. Tightly structured, it's peppery, intense and tannic, with concentrated fruit flavors of pomegranate and cassis. A lingering note of black tea marks the finish.
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Wine Spectator
Well-structured, with intense and rich-tasting forest floor notes accenting the dried red fruit and berry flavors. The creamy finish lingers with cocoa powder and spice elements. Drink now through 2022.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.