September 8, 2010
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MacPhail Family Wines
| Owner(s) | James MacPhail |
| Web site | www.macphailwines.com |
| Link to this site |
MacPhail Pinot Family Wines was founded in 1998 by James MacPhail with the sole passion to handcraft Pinot Noir from premier North Coast appellations. The inaugural Pinot Noirs were released in 2002. MacPhail is a native son of Marin County who learned winemaking at Quivera, Pellegrini, and Merry Edwards.
The wines are handcrafted in small lots by MacPhail at a 5,000-case winery in Healdsburg. The style is rich and ripe and reflective of Merry Edward's Pinot Noirs. Grapes are sourced from various well-regarded vineyards in the Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley.
The wines are highly allocated through a mailing list. The wine label and marketing program are very eye-catching, and the wines do not disappoint, especially after a few years in the bottle when they really shine. Production has been about 1,500 cases of Pinot Noir.
Articles About MacPhail Family Wines
Reviewed Wines
2006 MacPhail Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., 675 cases, $38. Clones are 115,
667, 777 and Martini. Native fermentation, aged 11 months in French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light ruby color. Very fragrant brambly cherry and cranberry fruits highlighted
with savory herbs. Fresh herbed berry flavors with citrus in the background. A little creamy
with restrained dry tannins and a bright finish marked by a whiff of alcohol. Nothing special
but very decent and will have fans.
Reviewed June 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 MacPhail Ferrington Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.24% alc., 325 cases. Clones 2A, 115,
777. Native fermentations, aged 11 months in French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Attractive aromas of
strawberry tart, cola and gentle oak. An earthy wine with plenty of berry fruit, a trace of spice and an
undercurrent of greenness. Gossamer tannins and bright acidity. Just o.k. for me.
Reviewed June 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 MacPhail Toulouse Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 375 cases. Clones 2A,
115, 667 and 777. Native fermentations, aged 11 months in French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Charming and complex aromatic mix of red plums, strawberries, redwood and some good funk. Nicely
composed and layered red fruit palate that is lip-smacking. Perfectly balanced with suede tannins, a
pillowy texture and complete integration of the alcohol. Very Caliesque in style and utterly hedonistic.
Reviewed June 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 MacPhail Toulouse Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
396 cases, $40.
·
A ripe style with dry
red cherries, a hint of oak, and a touch of warmth. A slight bitterness mars an otherwise satisfying finish.
Reviewed June 3, 2007
ARTICLE »
2004 MacPhail Goodin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., 325 cases, $54. Clones 115,
777.
·
Red fruits, sawdust and green aromas. Nicely composed red fruits with plenty of bright fruit flavor.
A hint of greenness carries through.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2004 MacPhail Pratt Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., 250 cases, $54. Clones 2A, 23,
114 and 777.
·
Wine-soaked wet oak, dark cherry and musky notes on the nose. Really delicious black
raspberry and graham flavors which make you sit up straight. As it opens, the flavors veer toward raisin.
Nice tang, grip, length and finish.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2003 MacPhail Sangiacomo Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 120 cases,$40.
·
Wet
oak is overwhelming on the nose with an added unpleasant gasoline station smell. Smooth, plush darktoned
fruits which are trumped by the oak and woodshed flavors. Taste better than it smells.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 MacPhail Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., 675 cases, $38. Clones are 115, 667, 777 and Martini. Native fermentation, aged 11 months in French oak barrels. · Moderately light ruby color. Very fragrant brambly cherry and cranberry fruits highlighted with savory herbs. Fresh herbed berry flavors with citrus in the background. A little creamy with restrained dry tannins and a bright finish marked by a whiff of alcohol. Nothing special but very decent and will have fans. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 MacPhail Ferrington Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.24% alc., 325 cases. Clones 2A, 115, 777. Native fermentations, aged 11 months in French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. · Attractive aromas of strawberry tart, cola and gentle oak. An earthy wine with plenty of berry fruit, a trace of spice and an undercurrent of greenness. Gossamer tannins and bright acidity. Just o.k. for me. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 MacPhail Toulouse Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 375 cases. Clones 2A, 115, 667 and 777. Native fermentations, aged 11 months in French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. · Charming and complex aromatic mix of red plums, strawberries, redwood and some good funk. Nicely composed and layered red fruit palate that is lip-smacking. Perfectly balanced with suede tannins, a pillowy texture and complete integration of the alcohol. Very Caliesque in style and utterly hedonistic. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 MacPhail Toulouse Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
396 cases, $40. · A ripe style with dry red cherries, a hint of oak, and a touch of warmth. A slight bitterness mars an otherwise satisfying finish. Reviewed June 3, 2007 ARTICLE »
2004 MacPhail Goodin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., 325 cases, $54. Clones 115, 777. · Red fruits, sawdust and green aromas. Nicely composed red fruits with plenty of bright fruit flavor. A hint of greenness carries through. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2004 MacPhail Pratt Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., 250 cases, $54. Clones 2A, 23, 114 and 777. · Wine-soaked wet oak, dark cherry and musky notes on the nose. Really delicious black raspberry and graham flavors which make you sit up straight. As it opens, the flavors veer toward raisin. Nice tang, grip, length and finish. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2003 MacPhail Sangiacomo Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 120 cases,$40. · Wet oak is overwhelming on the nose with an added unpleasant gasoline station smell. Smooth, plush darktoned fruits which are trumped by the oak and woodshed flavors. Taste better than it smells. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
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