Winery - MacPhail
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This single-vineyard Pinot is distinctive. It has an intense white peppery aroma, but in the mouth shows a cascade of powerful cherry, cocoa and spice flavors, with a rich earthiness suggesting sautéed mushrooms with a dash of soy sauce. The mouthfeel is light and silky but powerful. It’s a fascinating wine that changes with every sip.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This delicious Pinot shows Russian River at its best. The wine is fully dry and balanced, with a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel that remains silky and smooth. The flavors are wonderful, all cherry marmalade, dusty cocoa, espresso and sweet oak.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
After missing a beat in ’04, the ’05 reverts to the high quality of the ’03. Made from Dijon clones, the wine shows a brilliant purity of cherry fruit, with rich, earthy complexities of mushrooms, forest floor, cola and balsam. Bone dry, it has an elegantly silky quality that cries out for the best foods. Best now and for the next four years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is a sizable Pinot Noir, in both body and flavor. Made from selected barrels, it’s thick and rich in blackberries, cherries, pomegranates, cola, cocoa and bacon, along with considerable toasted oak. Overpowering now, it really needs time in the cellar. Better after 2011.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
I have not been impressed by this bottling in past vintages, but the ’05 establishes a new benchmark. Just exactly why is hard to say. Yields were exceptionally low in this long, cool vintage, and lots of new French oak frames dramatically rich, ripe flavors of mashed cherries and raspberries, sprinkled with cinnamon, a drop of crème de cassis, and a pinch of white pepper. The depth and length are beautiful.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The vineyard is in Philo, which isn’t as cool as people think, especially when there are harvest heat spells as there were in 2004. The wine is very ripe, weighted down by raisiny, cooked berry flavors that seem more appropriate to Zinfandel. Still, it’s a tasty wine, rich and fruity and dry.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Many wineries have dipped into this Petaluma Gap-grown vineyard for grapes, and now MacPhail does. The wine shows the cool-climate crispness of the region, with zesty acidity. It’s bone dry and minerally, a Chablis-style Chardonnay with tangerine fruit and some new oak sweetness.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Very ripe, soft and jammy in cherry, raspberry and blood orange pie-filling flavors, this Pinot is made to be opened now. New oak adds a touch of smoke and vanilla. The wine feels dry and silky and lightly elegant in the mouth.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A good rosé, one of the better ones. Dry and crisply acidic, with a nice minerally tang to the raspberries and toast, and a clean, spicy finish. Ham, in whatever form, is a natural partner.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Delicate and light, showing smoky, hay and herb, coffee and floral aromas. The flavors of sassafras and citrus peel lead to a spicy finish. Not showing much fruit, though.
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