Martin Ray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2019
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of crushed raspberries, brambleberries, violets, orange zest and dried herbs. It’s medium-to full-bodied with sleek, fine tannins. Wonderfully bright, succulent and flavorful with mineral and saline hints on the finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is another pretty, perfumed, incredibly elegant wine from this estate, offering lots of mulled red and black fruits, toasted spices, and exotic flower-like aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has some classic Sonoma Coast foresty conifer tree-like nuances, building tannins, and outstanding length as well. This is a Pinot Noir for those who favor elegance and complexity over richness and power.
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The name Martin Ray resonates deeply in the history of California Winemaking. Martin Ray was a pioneer, dedicated to crafting single varietal, region specific wine from 1943 through 1972 in Saratoga, in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mentored by Paul Masson, he took a Burgundian approach to his winemaking, and developed what is now one of the most historical properties in California, known as Mount Eden.Nearly twenty years later, Courtney Benham stumbled upon 1500 cases of Martin Ray wine in a San Jose warehouse. Recognizing his good fortune, and his intent and drive to produce terroir driven wines, Ray’s historical significance and philosophy resonated with him. Courtney purchased the brand, and since 1990 has been committed to the production of artisanal wines worthy of the Martin Ray name.In 2003, Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery made its home in the Russian River Valley, one of the oldest continually working wineries in California. Today, Courtney and his winemaking team devote themselves to Ray’s ideology of making “wines of place”. They are relentlessat telling the story of wine. The depth of the portfolio offers those seeking a unique experience the chance to explore some of the most revered regionsin California. Fromthe Russian River Valley to Napa Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains, there is an abundance of phenomenal growing regions, great farming, and meticulous detail to vintages.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.