MacPhail Pinot Noir

MacPhail 2011

Anderson Valley 

 Pinot Noir

$40.00 a bottle

Just last week I was invited out to visit and explore the wines of MacPhail Winery with Jim Morris, @sonomawineguy on Twitter. Jim is the General Manager for MacPhail Winery. When I arrived I was given this lineup of different Pinot Noirs to try..........

2011 Anderson Valley, 2010 Sonoma Coast, 2011 Russian River Valley, 2011 Santa Rita Hills

Honestly I enjoyed them all but the 2011 Anderson Valley Pinot stole my heart that afternoon. This Pinot is a cuvée of Anderson Creek Vineyard and Annahala Vineyards. These grapes were hand picked and de-stemmed, then hand sorted twice. The juice was then aged 11 months in 100% French Oak, 50% new, 25% 1 year old and 25% 2 year old. The wine is then bottled 100% unfined and unfiltered. 

MacPhail's  Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is very aromatic on the nose with aromas of vanilla, strawberries, cherries and smoke. A super smooth Pinot tasting first lots of red fruits, strawberries, cranberries and cherries. The finish is long lasting of vanilla, pipe tobacco and leather. The backend on this Pinot really counter balances the sweet up front red fruits making this Anderson Valley Pinot velvety smooth. Definitely a special bottle of Pinot Noir.

James MacPhail built this small family winery in Healdsburg, California back in December 2008, producing only small batches of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Rose. MacPhail winery is not open to the public. Tastings are by appointment only, Monday-Saturday. Coming this Summer 2014, MacPhail Winery will have a new tasting lounge at The Barlow in Sebastopol, California. Much thanks to Jim Morris and MacPhail Winery for spoiling me with such great wines that afternoon. @macphailpinot @sonomawineguy @TheBarlow707