Don’t let the light color fool you. The ’09 Sonoma Coast Pinot from MacPhail is flavorful and intense, with an inviting nose of rose petal and crushed red fruits. This vintage exhibits focused aromas of Bing cherry and red raspberry, with an underpinning of juicy, refreshing acidity, length through the mid-palate, and finish that defy any conclusions you may have drawn from simply eyeing the wine in the glass. On the palate, this wine has weight without heaviness, making for an elegant California Pinot that you can likely enjoy for another five to seven years. And it’s at a price that is modest for wines of this class.
MacPhail, Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2009
By Robert Whitley