Winemaker Notes
-Wine Enthusiast Editor's Choice 95/100
The grapes for this Pinot Noir came exclusively from MacRostie's Wildcat Mountain Vineyard, owned by Steve MacRostie and his partners Nancy and Tony Lilly. Here the vines dig into the sparse volcanic soil and stand firm against the brisk winds that race in off the Pacific Ocean most afternoons. This foggy mountaintop vineyard is Carneros at its coolest and most challenging, but the vines produce fruit of great distinction.
Dark ruby color, with aromas of black raspberry, clove, and coffee. In the mouth there's loads of ripe raspberry, plus a hint of cinnamon-laced cocoa, like good Mexican chocolate. Very full-bodied, weighty and rich, but still light on its feet. The finish turns slightly toward cedar, but the fruit goes on and on.
Professional Ratings
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.