Dec 30, 2022
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Mahoney Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Francis Mahoney, Kathy Mahoney |
| Web site | www.mahoneyvineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
Mahoney Vineyards is the culmination of 35 years of experience growing and producing wines in the Carneros region spanning the cool southern reaches of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Francis and Kathy Mahoney produce carefully crafted wines in small quantities from the very best of their 160 acres of estate vineyards
Francis first planted Pinot Noir and began 30 years of clonal trials to better understand some of the hundreds of clonal variations of the variety. In 1973, he built a small, functional winery and began his quest to make Burgndian-styled wines. His initial winery was Carneros Creek which he no longer owns.
Francis Mahoney appointed Ken Foster, veteran Pinot Noir winemaker, to oversee production at Mahoney Vineyards in June, 2002. The winemaker/production manager from David Bruce winery in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, Foster had been making wine there for 15 years, helping change the focus of the winery from Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. Ken focused on small-lot production, emphasizing gentle handling and separation of small wine lots for potential vineyard designate as well as appellation-labeled wines.
Mahoney Vineyards releases four Pinot Noirs: a Carneros appellation blend, Las Brisas Vineyard, Mahoney Ranch Vineyard and Haire Ranch Vineyard.
The wines are available on the website and at the Oxbow Tasting Room which is open daily 11:00-7:00 at 708 1st St in Napa (www.tasteoxbow.com).
Articles About Mahoney Vineyards
Legends of California Pinot Noir (7.24 8/28/2009)
Mahoney Vineyards: Modern Wines with a History (8.30 1/27/2011)
Pinot Noir Shootout Prelims (6.48 12/16/2007)
Small Sips of Pinot (8.12 3/11/2010)
Reviewed Wines
2009 Mahoney Vineyards Gavin Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay
13.8% alc., pH 3.54, 230 cases, $18. Produced only in outstanding
vintages. Barrel fermented and aged 9 months sur-lies in French oak
barrels.
·
Light straw color in the glass. A perfectly fine Chardonnay
especially at this price. Lovely scents of citrus, white peach and vanilla
pudding. Tasty Asian pear and white peach fruit with a hint of citrus
peel. Light and subtle with a good acid spine typical of Chardonnay from
Carneros. An exemplary daily drinker.
Reviewed January 27, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Mahoney Vineyards Carneros Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.65, 1,570 cases, $22. 7 Pinot
Noir clonal selections from the Mahoney Ranch and Las Brisas Vineyards. Aged 14 months in
French oak barrels.
·
Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Persistent aromas of black cherries,
raspberries and Red Vines that hold up nicely over time in the glass. Well-composed and tasty, this
pleasing wine features a moderately weighted core of cherry, raspberry and currant fruits with
undertones of spice and earth. The finish is marked by intensely aromatic cherries. A solid daily
drinker. Good.
Reviewed January 27, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Mahoney Vineyards Las Brisas Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.57, 230 cases, $32. This vineyard is named
for the winds that cool the vines. Aged 15 months in French oak
barrels.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Typical Pinot
nose with bright cherry, Herbs de Provence and oak aromas that
maintain intensity over time in the glass. Delicious black cherry fruit
flavor explodes in the mouth, with an impressive intensity and
persistence, but the wine remains delicate and charming. A hint of citrus and
oak in the background adds interest. Very good.
Reviewed January 27, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Mahoney Vineyards Mahoney Ranch Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.65, 230 cases, $32.
Aged 15 months in French oak barrels.
·
Moderately deep
garnet color in the glass. Complex aromatic profile featuring
notes of black cherry, allspice, MuShu plum sauce and boot
leather. Layered dark stone fruits on the palate with nuances
of earth, grilled mushrooms, cola and subtle oak. The wine
rises to the occasion and becomes better and better in the glass with swirling.
An admirable grip of acidity provides a refreshing finish. A very easy drinker that
will please any pinoriste. Still fine the next day from a previously opened and recorked
bottle.
Reviewed January 27, 2011
ARTICLE »
2005 Mahoney Vineyards Las Brisas Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5 alc., $27.
·
Perfume of overripe
strawberries, raisins, marzipan and oak toast. The slightly roasted and brown-sugared fruits are buttressed by
soft tannins creating a very smooth mouth feel. Decent.
Reviewed March 11, 2010
ARTICLE »
2005 Mahoney Vineyards Las Brisas Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
325 cases, $36. Francis Mahoney
has 35 years of experience growing grapes and making wine in Carneros.
·
A very sensual offering
in the glass with cherry pie and spice interest. Decent red fruits, but rather simple and lacking punch
and fullness on the mid palate. The nose trumps the flavors.
Reviewed December 16, 2007
ARTICLE »
2009 Mahoney Vineyards Gavin Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay
13.8% alc., pH 3.54, 230 cases, $18. Produced only in outstanding vintages. Barrel fermented and aged 9 months sur-lies in French oak barrels. · Light straw color in the glass. A perfectly fine Chardonnay especially at this price. Lovely scents of citrus, white peach and vanilla pudding. Tasty Asian pear and white peach fruit with a hint of citrus peel. Light and subtle with a good acid spine typical of Chardonnay from Carneros. An exemplary daily drinker. Reviewed January 27, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Mahoney Vineyards Carneros Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.65, 1,570 cases, $22. 7 Pinot Noir clonal selections from the Mahoney Ranch and Las Brisas Vineyards. Aged 14 months in French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Persistent aromas of black cherries, raspberries and Red Vines that hold up nicely over time in the glass. Well-composed and tasty, this pleasing wine features a moderately weighted core of cherry, raspberry and currant fruits with undertones of spice and earth. The finish is marked by intensely aromatic cherries. A solid daily drinker. Good. Reviewed January 27, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Mahoney Vineyards Las Brisas Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.57, 230 cases, $32. This vineyard is named for the winds that cool the vines. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Typical Pinot nose with bright cherry, Herbs de Provence and oak aromas that maintain intensity over time in the glass. Delicious black cherry fruit flavor explodes in the mouth, with an impressive intensity and persistence, but the wine remains delicate and charming. A hint of citrus and oak in the background adds interest. Very good. Reviewed January 27, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Mahoney Vineyards Mahoney Ranch Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.65, 230 cases, $32. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels. · Moderately deep garnet color in the glass. Complex aromatic profile featuring notes of black cherry, allspice, MuShu plum sauce and boot leather. Layered dark stone fruits on the palate with nuances of earth, grilled mushrooms, cola and subtle oak. The wine rises to the occasion and becomes better and better in the glass with swirling. An admirable grip of acidity provides a refreshing finish. A very easy drinker that will please any pinoriste. Still fine the next day from a previously opened and recorked bottle. Reviewed January 27, 2011 ARTICLE »
2005 Mahoney Vineyards Las Brisas Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5 alc., $27. · Perfume of overripe strawberries, raisins, marzipan and oak toast. The slightly roasted and brown-sugared fruits are buttressed by soft tannins creating a very smooth mouth feel. Decent. Reviewed March 11, 2010 ARTICLE »
2005 Mahoney Vineyards Las Brisas Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
325 cases, $36. Francis Mahoney has 35 years of experience growing grapes and making wine in Carneros. · A very sensual offering in the glass with cherry pie and spice interest. Decent red fruits, but rather simple and lacking punch and fullness on the mid palate. The nose trumps the flavors. Reviewed December 16, 2007 ARTICLE »