91 points, Wine Enthusiast: This mellow, mature wine has a brownish color, palate-soothing texture and well-developed flavors of earth, balsam and tobacco. Very tasty and complex, drink it soon.
Vintners' and Winemaker's Notes:
Mariah Vineyard is set in Mendocino Ridge, a remote and higher elevation appellation that is sort of the wild west of Pinot Noir growing in Mendocino County. While the area of the AVA is over 250,000 acres, the only suitable land for grape-growing is above 1,200 feet elevation and currently about 75 or so acres are currently planted to wine grapes.
In the 1970s, Dan Dooling and Vicki Tomola purchased land at 2,400 feet elevation above Point Arena and planted Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Syrah, then later Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir block that we source from at Mariah comes from two different clones, Dijon 667 and Pommard, planted to Syrah rootstock (1103 Paulson) in a combination of Hugo and Josephine loams over a well drained Sandstone fractured Shale subsoil. The vines run east west with 10-foot rows and 7 foot vine spacing, with quadrilateral cordon training and is dry-farmed - a particularly beneficial trait during a challenging draught year.
Our newest release from the high elevation Mariah Vineyard continues to show its classic savory and mountain berry combination. The color on Mariah always has a more crimson edge to the medium garnet hue in the glass. The aromas of this wine really usher in autumn: black cherry, sage, dried leaves, black tea and holiday spice. On the palate, the wine offers a medium body, plush tannins and bright acid. The flavors of cherry are echoed with layers of dried leaves, sous-bois, sage and cedar. The wine layers hints of cinnamon spice and a touch of cream on the palate. This will pair nicely with an herb-roasted turkey with wild mushroom and leek stuffing.
Details:
Clones: 667 and Pommard
Harvest date: September 15, 2016
Alcohol content: 13.5% by volume
Fruit: 100% whole berry (no stems)
Fermentation: W15 & Brioso yeast
Finish: unfined and unfiltered
Barrel aging: 16 months in French oak, 25% new (Billon AML3yr)
Bottled: March, 2018
Production: 95 cases
Drink now through 2026
Release date: November, 2019
