Marimar Estate Dona Margarita Vineyard Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir 2018
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James -
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Winemaker Notes
Beautiful, classic Pinot color and a nose that reflects its ancestry: sweet black fruits like blackberries, rhubarb and cranberry, plus the classic forest floor, meaty and earthy, with floral notes of lavender and rose hip. On the palate it is soft but mouth- filling, with a minerality, bright acidity and well-integrated tannins that promise a long life; this wine will continue to develop for at least 10-15 years.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The iron and mineral comes through with strawberries and some dried stems. Medium-bodied with a firmness and brightness and plenty of freshness. From the Occidental area.
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Wine Spectator
Well-structured and filled with finely textured flavors of cherry tart and dried berry flavors that are refined and backed by rich acidity and tannins. The minerally finish is long and richly spiced, with creamy nuances. Drink now
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Nestled in the rolling hills of western Sonoma County, the Russian River/ Green Valley appellation is a perfect microclimate for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Only 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and 50 miles north of San Francisco, the site is influenced by the sea's cooling breezes and drifting fog. That is why Marimar Torres selected this privileged location to "export" the Torres family legacy of fine wines to California.
Marimar came to live in California in 1975. After two years of searching, she acquired the land and began planting the 60-acre vineyard in 1986. A second vineyard, in the ’true’ Sonoma Coast, was planted in 2002 and 2008 with 20 acres of Pinot Noir. This property receives an even greater cooling influence due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
The wines are made entirely from estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Albariño grapes. The two vineyards, named after Don Miguel and Doña Margarita in honor of Marimar's parents, are unique in California because they are totally European in style. The vines are trained very close to the ground on an open vertical trellis, following the slope of an east-facing hillside; the rootstocks are phylloxera resistant; and the planting density is 2000 vines per acre, four times more than is traditional in California. Such high density promotes root competition and diminishes vigor, naturally reducing the output per vine. Yields are low and labor is intensive, but the vines live longer and produce grapes with greater concentration of flavors, more refined and elegant aromas, and better balance. To contribute complexity, Marimar selected several clones of each varietal. Each clone brings different attributes to the final blend, resulting in wines with deep layers of flavor.
Built in 1992 with a capacity of 15,000 cases, the winery sits on a hill surrounded by vines. The estate is 100% solar-powered and certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. The winery’s production wing is outfitted with carefully selected equipment, to allow the control essential to producing a wine based on minimal handling. Its three barrel rooms with independent temperature and humidity controls provide flexibility to experiment with various vinification techniques, in order to best express the fruit's character. The reception wing, decorated with antique winemaking equipment, furniture, and crockery brought over from Catalonia, includes a professional kitchen and a spacious dining room with a grand fireplace. The winery is open seven days a week for tastings and tours by appointment. Today, Marimar is joined by her daughter, Cristina Torres, who recently came aboard the family business.
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.