Marcassin Blue-Slide Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010

$279

Marcassin 2010 Blue-Slide Vineyard Pinot Noir - Limited94 Points Robert Parker: "The medium to full-bodied, dark ruby/plum-colored 2010 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge displays the blue fruit spectrum along with some raspberries, fresh mushrooms and spring flowers, a layered mouthfeel, more minerality than the explosive 2009 exhibited, outstanding ripeness and lots of personality. This is clearly a grand cru site owned by the Martinellis. This 2010 should drink well for 5-7 years... ...The visionary husband and wife team of John Wetlaufer and Helen Turley have created a largely unprecedented legacy of extraordinary quality that is unsurpassed by anyone else in Northern California. They have built a winery in Windsor, California in Sonoma Valley with 20 acres of vines situated high above the fog line, on the Sonoma Coast. They were among the first to recognize the extraordinary potential for world-class quality wine production on the Sonoma Coast. Their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines are planted at elevations between 800 and 1,400 feet. The plantings are either 5 x 8 or 3 x 6.5. The Chardonnay clonal material is dominated by Old Wente, but there are also selections from the Hyde, Mt. Eden, Dijon 95 and Dijon 76 clones. The Pinot Noir clonal material is dominated by the Calera selection, with some Old Swan that came via the old Martin Ray clone that came via Dehlinger and Kistler. The second part of their 20-acre vineyard was planted, at least for the Pinot Noir, largely with the Calera selection as well as the newer Dijon clones 777 and 667.The winemaking techniques are clearly artisanal and very Burgundian, although these Chardonnays tend to age better than most white Burgundies made since 1996. I tasted two vintages, the Three Sisters, which is a Martinelli-farmed vineyard from which they will no longer be using fruit, in addition to their profound estate vineyard. 2010 produced just over two tons of fruit per acre and was a vintage that appears to be slightly more intense and have a higher ceiling than 2009.

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Ratings on Delectable

Fraser McKinley Delectable Pro

This was one of a quartet of beautiful bottles shared by the fantastic and hilarious @Bill Bender. It opened beautifully with a little San Diego summer evening air and still has many a year ahead. More importantly, it was washed down amidst superb company and perfectly accompanied the abundance of laughter. To top it all off we even managed some quality FaceTime with @Shay A whilst sipping the last glass. Great clean Friday night fun - 2010

This was one of a quartet of beautiful bottles shared by the fantastic and hilarious @Bill Bender. It opened beautifully with a little San Diego summer evening air and still has many a year ahead. More importantly, it was washed down amidst superb company and perfectly accompanied the abundance of laughter. To top it all off we even managed some quality FaceTime with @Shay A whilst sipping the last glass. Great clean Friday night fun - 2010

9.5

Matt Courtney Delectable Pro

Winemaker Arista Winery

This is flat out delicious

This is flat out delicious

Ed Chin

Kind of primary still. Great balance tand almost a cross between old and new world if there such a thing.

Kind of primary still. Great balance tand almost a cross between old and new world if there such a thing.

9.2

Erica Orr Delectable Pro

Recognizably Californian in the burg lineup, but that doesn't mean it wasn't hella delicious. Beautifully made.

Recognizably Californian in the burg lineup, but that doesn't mean it wasn't hella delicious. Beautifully made.

Wallace Levy McKeel

A bit hot. Pretty nose but not a long finish. Glad I didn’t purchase this one.

A bit hot. Pretty nose but not a long finish. Glad I didn’t purchase this one.

8.5

Tom Land

Perhaps expectations were too high but this wine was a little hot, not sure you'd confuse this for GC Burgundy. Not on my dime …

Perhaps expectations were too high but this wine was a little hot, not sure you'd confuse this for GC Burgundy. Not on my dime …

8.7

WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.