Waits-Mast Family Cellars Mariah Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 Red Wine

Waits-Mast Family Cellars Mariah Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Mendocino Ridge, CA

95 pts, Cellar Selection, Wine Enthusiast:

"Quite flavorful and nicely structured, this well-concentrated wine grown at 2,300 feet in elevation is worth keeping to enjoy how it develops over time. Engaging raspberry, red cherry and redwood aromas are followed by mouthfilling, ripe black fruit flavors on a full body braced by moderate, fine-grained tannins. Best from 2026. Cellar Selection." —J.G.

This is one of those off-the-radar Pinot Noirs that we just LOVE to discover and introduce to fellow Pinot Noir lovers! With only 106 cases produced, it's truly a "boutique" wine! There's a whole lot of flavors going on in this wine, probably due to the 24% whole cluster fermentation. We love the lively spiciness and earthiness blending in with the deep dark fruit flavors. Oh my, it's a big "YUM"!

FROM THE WINERY

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 draught years.

The 2018 Mariah shows a density not typical of the vineyard in other vintages. Dark and brooding on the nose, even the color is more intense. Dark cherry, cola nut, and clove are layered on a medium bodied frame with fine grained tannins. This wine positively sings right out of the bottle, but is sure to continue to develop over the next 5-7 years. Pair with anything with mushrooms from a chanterelle risotto to a porcini crusted steak.

Clones: 667 and Pommard
Harvest date: September 25, 2018
Alcohol content: 13.8% by volume
Fruit: 24% whole cluster
Fermentation: Native
Finish: unfined and unfiltered
Barrel aging: 15 months in French oak (22% new: Billon AM+ 3Y)
Bottled: February, 2020
Production: 106 cases

Drink now through 2028