MacPhail Mardikian Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
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Robert
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
On this vintage, aromas of ripe black cherries and clove are complemented by flavors of dark berries and notes of forest floor. Silky, elegant tannins work in tandem with the layered flavors and hints of smoke as a subtle acidity provides a beautiful lift to complete the wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Very suave, with an unctuous blend of red fruit, spice and creamy flavors, supported by silky tannins. Raspberry and red currant notes are in the driver's seat, driven by sandalwood and hot spice nuances. The fresh finish is loaded with minerally richness.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Mardikian Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir opens to scents of tar, crushed cranberries, black and red cherries, tree bark and mushroom with hints of citrus peel and amaro. It's medium-bodied, silky and slowly unfurls in the mouth to earth-laced fruits, with a fine, grainy frame and great juicy freshness on the very long finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Tightly focused tannin and oak form a formidable structure around well-defined flavors of black cherry, currant and forest in this full-bodied, densely concentrated wine. Thick, rich and complex, it packs a punch of intensity and memorable length and breadth.
Other Vintages
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
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- Decanter
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Robert
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What defines MacPhail? Our little red wagon says it all. Family. Fun. Serious when we need to be (but not too much).
From the beginning, which isn’t all that long ago, we’ve believed that wine is art with a splash of science. Our first vintage was 2002, so you haven’t had a long time to get to know us. But we’re easy. We use traditional, old-world winemaking techniques with minimal intervention to deliver wines that are flavorful enough to tell you a lot about our exceptional vineyards in Sonoma County and Mendocino’s Anderson Valley. We forge strong partnerships with growers willing to join us in this ongoing adventure. Restless and curious, always searching to answer a simple question: what is Pinot Noir? Crafted by nature, nurtured by our hands.
The little red wagon that graces our label symbolizes timeless design and exceptional quality. We like the idea that kids play in wagons, and share simple joys. No reason we can’t as well. So we try not to take ourselves too seriously, even as we’re very serious about our wines.
Tim and Sabrina Persson take the long view as stewards of MacPhail Wines. After all, they are the fifth generation of the Hess family to watch over the family’s wineries. As Tim likes to say, take a peek in the wine rack at home and you’ll have no doubt how often MacPhail is a part of the family’s wine selections. It’s not uncommon to see Tim and Sabrina, along with the next generation – children Jasper and Yasmine – at the MacPhail Tasting Lounge @The Barlow. Be sure to say hello.
Matt Courtney has a simple goal as winemaker for MacPhail: capture the individuality of each vineyard site and let it express itself in your glass. His focus is the vineyard, and he has worked with many MacPhail growers for years. Celebrated for wines created for Arista, Marcassin and his own label, Ferren, he is as well known for his wizardry with Chardonnay as he is with Pinot Noir. Happily, MacPhail has room for both.
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.