2009 Marimar Estate Pinot Noir Cristina Don Miguel
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Tasting notes
50% new, 50% second year French barriques. Mid crimson. 60% Swan clone, the rest mainly Pommard. There is real grunt to this wine – more so that to the Sonoma Coast 2010 bottling. It's not refined but it is chock fully of mushroomy character and I can see the relation to the Joseph Swan Pinots. Something earthy and sensual. Bravo! Opulent and quintessentially Sonoma. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
(made from a 16-barrel selection that the winery deems the most representative of the vineyard's character in a given vintage): Deep red. Deeply pitched aromas of red berry liqueur, cherry pit, licorice and mocha, with a musky note of underbrush and subtle smokiness. Chewy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors become sweeter with air and pick up a bitter chocolate quality, along with a hint of fruitcake. Concentrated yet energetic and focused, with strong closing thrust and firm tannic grip. Although this wine is pushing 5 years of age I'd bet on it not really hitting its stride until its 8th or 9th birthday. (JR)
This top bottling from Marimar Estate is a barrel selection. Sweet and rich but with a hint of freshness. It splits the difference in style between the Pinots produced from this Russian River Valley vineyard and the much cooler one they planted in Sonoma Coast. Rich start but some real structure. On the other hand, it didn't last all that well in an open bottle. (JR)