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MacMurray Ranch
| Owner(s) | Gallo Family |
| Web site | www.macmurrayranch.com |
| Link to this site |
This MacMurray-Gallo link might sound like an odd couple, but it really isn't. Film and TV star Fred MacMurray enjoyed the ranch as a getaway and working farm, and when his family put it up for sale in 1996 after his death, they followed his orders to sell it to a "family" who would promise to keep the land in agriculture and his fence line intact. Gallo honored his wishes and now his daughter, Kate MacMurray, a former screenwriter, is spokesperson for the winery. Gallo planted vines and the winery was born in 2000.
MacMurray Ranch Winery is smack in the middle of Sonoma County's cool-climate Russian River Valley, with wine neighbors such as Rochioli and Gary Farrell. The mantra from Gino Gallo has been to make great MacMurray Pinot Noir. She personally chose Susan Doyle, who grew up on a beef and apple farm in Tasmania, as the winemaker. After training, she made Pinot Noir in Australia and consulted in the United States.
MacMurray Ranch farms 1,100 acres and produces 128,960 cases annually. 80% of the fruit comes from estate vineyards.
Three appellation blend Pinot Noirs are produced: Central Coast, Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. They are reasonably priced and widely available. The Russian River Valley Pinot Gris is recommended.
Articles About MacMurray Ranch
Reviewed Wines
2007 MacMurray Ranch Central Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $24.
Primarily sourced from Olson Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands.
Harvested in the early morning, de-stemmed, cold soaked, fermented
with a mixture of natural and proprietary Burgundian yeasts.
·
Pretty red tinged
violet color. Shy, but appealing aromas of dark berries, wooded
forest and oak spice. Rich melange of berry fruit and a hint of oak with
gossamer tannins and bright acidity. A nice drink for the money.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Mac Murray Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $18.
·
The appealing aromas trump the
flavors in this wine. Nice black cherry, earth and cola scents. The dark cherry fruit is nicely presented on a
silky platform with a clean and dry finish, but a dirty oak and stemmy taste spoils the ending.
Reviewed November 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 MacMurray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $19.
·
Smoke, tar and confected cherry aromas lead to
oak-infused dark fruits with a herbaceous edge. Soft but notable tannins. Drink with grilled meats.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 MacMurray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $19.
·
An oak-infused wine with aromas and
flavors of confected black cherry, smoke and tar. A herbaceous edge is evident. Soft, but evident tannins.
I have seen this wine very favorably reviewed in the wine press but it was disappointing to me. Drink it
with grilled meat or fish.
Reviewed August 4, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 MacMurray Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $35.
Hand harvested, de-stemmed, cold soaked for 5 days, fermented with a mixture
of natural and Burgundian yeasts.
·
This is a dense fruit-driven wine which lacks
the trademark spice and cola features of many Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs.
There is plenty of dark fruit and tannin but this wine could be from anywhere.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 MacMurray Ranch Winemaker’s Block Selection Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 400 cases, $60. Clones 828 and
37 (Mt. Eden). Hand sorted and de-stemmed into open top 1 to 3.5 ton
fermenters with a target of 95% whole berries. Cold soaked for 5 to 7
days and inoculation with a mixture of natural and Burgundian yeasts.
Pressed gently using a basket press. Aged in a combination of new
and 1-year-old French oak barrels with an additional 6+ months in
bottle before release.
·
Now we’re talking. Really attractive aromas of black
cherry and cherry cola. Plush core of cherry and berry fruit with some spice,
leather and graham. Long, stylish and silky with tannins reigned in and oak
playing a subtle supportive role. Clearly more sophisticated, refined and
elegant than the other MacMurray bottlings. This wine will match up with the any of the very best Pinot Noirs
currently made in California. This Pinot was kissed by an angel.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 MacMurray Ranch Central Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $24. Primarily sourced from Olson Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Harvested in the early morning, de-stemmed, cold soaked, fermented with a mixture of natural and proprietary Burgundian yeasts. · Pretty red tinged violet color. Shy, but appealing aromas of dark berries, wooded forest and oak spice. Rich melange of berry fruit and a hint of oak with gossamer tannins and bright acidity. A nice drink for the money. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Mac Murray Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $18. · The appealing aromas trump the flavors in this wine. Nice black cherry, earth and cola scents. The dark cherry fruit is nicely presented on a silky platform with a clean and dry finish, but a dirty oak and stemmy taste spoils the ending. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 MacMurray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $19. · Smoke, tar and confected cherry aromas lead to oak-infused dark fruits with a herbaceous edge. Soft but notable tannins. Drink with grilled meats. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 MacMurray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $19. · An oak-infused wine with aromas and flavors of confected black cherry, smoke and tar. A herbaceous edge is evident. Soft, but evident tannins. I have seen this wine very favorably reviewed in the wine press but it was disappointing to me. Drink it with grilled meat or fish. Reviewed August 4, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 MacMurray Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $35. Hand harvested, de-stemmed, cold soaked for 5 days, fermented with a mixture of natural and Burgundian yeasts. · This is a dense fruit-driven wine which lacks the trademark spice and cola features of many Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. There is plenty of dark fruit and tannin but this wine could be from anywhere. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 MacMurray Ranch Winemaker’s Block Selection Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 400 cases, $60. Clones 828 and 37 (Mt. Eden). Hand sorted and de-stemmed into open top 1 to 3.5 ton fermenters with a target of 95% whole berries. Cold soaked for 5 to 7 days and inoculation with a mixture of natural and Burgundian yeasts. Pressed gently using a basket press. Aged in a combination of new and 1-year-old French oak barrels with an additional 6+ months in bottle before release. · Now we’re talking. Really attractive aromas of black cherry and cherry cola. Plush core of cherry and berry fruit with some spice, leather and graham. Long, stylish and silky with tannins reigned in and oak playing a subtle supportive role. Clearly more sophisticated, refined and elegant than the other MacMurray bottlings. This wine will match up with the any of the very best Pinot Noirs currently made in California. This Pinot was kissed by an angel. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
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