MacPhail Proudly Releases First Estate Pinot Noir

Proprietor and winemaker James MacPhail has been crafting compelling wines from many Anderson Valley and Sonoma Coast vineyards for many years. Currently, Pinot Noir is sourced from ten vineyards, including Toulouse, Frattey Shams, Wightman House, Ferrington, Cerise, and Demuth in Anderson Valley, and Gap’s Crown, Goodin, Pratt and Sangiacomo in the Sonoma Coast.

The 2012 vintage marks a milestone for MacPhail Family Wines: the release of the inaugural Mardikian Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir. The vineyard was planted in 2008 in one of the coolest reaches of the West Sonoma Coast. Working with Jim Pratt, eight clones were selected and planted on westerly facing slopes that are often layered with tufts of cottony fog in the mornings.

The name of the vineyard, Mardikian, is a family name, associated with the famous Omar-Khayyam's restaurant in San Francisco. Haig Mardikian lives near the vineyard and leased the land to MacPhail.

2012 MacPhail Mardikian Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.77, TA 0.56, 283 cases, $85. Limited release November 2014. Harvest Brix 26.5º-26.7º. Pommard, Martini, Wädenswil 2A and 114 clones. 100% de-stemmed, 5-day cold soak, native malolactic fermentation in barrels, battonage weekly for 3 months, aged 16 months sur lie in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose shows off a commendable balance between darker cherry and berry fruits and oak. Delicious mid weight core of black cherry goodness with hints of spice, cola and mocha and a whisper of oak. Satiny smooth in the mouth with complimentary tannins and a finish that saturates the senses. This wine really hits the mark with emphasis. Score: 94