2014 Vintage

90 Points “Best Buy” “Year’s Best Pinot Noirs”, Wine & Spirits
“A blend from seven vineyards, including Steve MacRostie’s Wildcat Mountain in the Petaluma Gap and four sites in Russian River Valley, this has warm notes of cherry pie and cedary scents of oak. Firm, fine-textured tannins keep the wine savory and spicy. Focused on oak, this should be best in a year or two.” —Josh Greene, December 2017 & April 2018
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90 Points, Wine Advocate
“The 2014 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is pale ruby colored, with warm cherries, red currants, dried herbs and a hint of loam. Medium-bodied and elegant, this is a great expression of Pinot Noir at a modest price, with nice length and fine-grained tannins.” —Lisa PerrottiBrown, March 1, 2017
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88 Points, Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide
“This wine combines fruit from several notable vineyards, including Goldrock Ridge, Thale’s Estate and Wildcat Mountain. Together, they drive a focused expression of smoky dark fruit and tart, moderate acidity. The fruit shows a depth of ripeness that’s intense, with a finish of spicy black tea.” —Virginie Boone, November 2017

92 Points, Wine Review Online
This wine would surely win over even the anti-Chardonnay folks. Its savory dryness is balanced by fresh fruitiness, especially apple and citrusy elements, while the oak presence is more like a dash of spice than a heavy layer of flavor. The sublime duality of richness and delicacy, plus the wine’s palate embracing texture, is what truly sets MacRostie Chardonnay apart from the competition. – Marquerite Thomas, April 19, 2016

90 Points, Wine Spectator
“Presents a delicious core of vibrant grapefruit and lemon-laced tangerine and white peach notes. Those who value zesty acidity will love this, as the acidity keeps the flavors fresh and jumping. Drink now. 25,000 cases made.” – James Laube, January 2016

90 Points, The Tasting Panel
Fresh and smooth with ripe fruit and creamy texture; rich and balanced with a firm core of acidity; mellow and long. —Anthony Dias Blue, Feb. 1, 2016

3 1/2 Stars, The Press Democrat
“A bright pinot with notes of cherry, cedar, cocoa and mineral. Light and lively. Tasty.”
—Peg Melnik, August 24, 2016

90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Light and delicate, this wine also offers a lushness to the texture, finding a balance between the two spectrums. Cranberry and strawberry dot a landscape of earthy tobacco and cola-laced oak, finishing with a bold taste of dark chocolate. —Virginie Boone, June 1, 2017

91 Points, Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby colored, the 2014 Goldrock Ridge Pinot Noir is scented of black cherries, black raspberries and garrigue with touches of lavender and underbrush. Medium bodied and delicately played on the palate, it has a fine backbone of silky tannins and lively acidity, finishing long. —Lisa Perrotti-Brown, March 1, 2017

93 Points, JamesSuckling.com
Bramble berry and lemon rind aromas follow through to a full body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. More fruit forward in style but shows an intensity and beauty. Drink now or hold. —James Suckling, May 23, 2017

93 Points, The Tasting Panel
Bright berry nose; juicy and crisp with racy acidity and tangy red cherry fruit; smooth, lively and lush; elegant and deep; charming and long. —Anthony Diaz Blue, February 2017

96 Points, Wine Review Online
What jumps out in this vintage from Goldrock Ridge is the freshness of the fruit on the palate. This wine is loaded with notes of blue fruits and spice without going down the path toward jammy, baked aromas. The acidity is bright and refreshing, the tannins firm but beautifully integrated, and the finish is long and impressive. Drink now or hold for up to five years. —Robert Whitley, March 21, 2017

Four Stars, The Press Democrat
A lovely pinot that’s layered with notes of blackberry, blueberry, herbs and tobacco. Bright acid. Lingering finish. Well crafted. —Peg Melnick, January, 2017

90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Earthy cherry and cardamom seize the palate at first, before a tang of pomegranate and cranberry sneaks in to provide freshness and minerality. Tannic in its youth, this medium-bodied red also offers a minty note of black tea. —Virginie Boone, April 1, 2017

90 Points, Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide
“Light in color and nuanced in oak, this full-bodied beauty doesn’t hold back on richness, allowing plenty of room for an expanse of salted caramel, pineapple and preserved lemon. Layered and robust throughout the midpalate, it lightens up on the intensity through a crisp finish.” —Virginie Boone, November 2016

93 Points, Wine Review Online
“Score another fine Chardonnay from Steve MacRostie and winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen. Pear, peach, melon, apple and a touch of vanilla spice ride lively acidity that balances the malolactic texture nicely, keeping the wine fresh and inviting well into the glass. Beautifully stylized!” –Rich Cook, July 12, 2016

90 Points, PinotFile
“Sourced from three blocks that are foggy with Goldridge soils. Braughton on Vine Hill Road, Hansen Hill at Dutton Ranch in Graton, and Jewell Ranch also located in Graton. Whole cluster pressed, racked into French oak barrels for primary and malolactic fermentation, and aged 10 months on lees with occasional stirring. 35% of barrels were new. Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of lemon pie, peach, brioche, and kelp lead to predominantly salted apple, pear, pineapple and spice flavors in a sleekly styled wine with bright acidity.” —Rusty Gaffney MD, June 18, 2016

90 Points, Wine Spectator
“Deceptively complex and nuanced, featuring touches of ripe cherry, raspberry and cranberry, with subtle notes of dusty, loamy earth and savory herb. Maintains focus on the persistent aftertaste. Drink now through 2023.” —Jim Laube, Sept. 30, 2017

93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Bold and ripe, this wine traffics in earthy wild raspberry, strawberry, mushroom and nutmeg. Ethereal despite its weight and breadth, it’s made in a classic style and is deliciously varietal, a showcase of a great site in a great vintage. —Virginie Boone, Feb. 1, 2018

91 Points, JamesSuckling.com
Dried berry and lemon rind aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, lots of sweet and sour fruit character and a medium finish. Fresh and easy. Screw cap. Drink now. —James Suckling, May 23, 2017

90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Linear layers of lemon chiffon and clove-spiked orange wrap around light oak and focused acidity. Medium bodied and smoothly textured, it offers a kiss of caramel on the finish. —Virginie Boone, Feb. 1, 2017

90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
This is a big, meaty wine that wears its youthfulness on its sleeve, showing a touch of reduction and assertive oak. Beneath its wall of ripeness, black licorice, cherry and pomegranate characteristics are buoyed by a depth of thick tannin. —Virginie Boone, April 1, 2017

90 Points, Wine Review Online
“MacRostie has the ability to do more than 70 small fermentations with their Pinot Noir, which makes for a huge palette to select from when blending their appellation bottling. This vintage features just four lots in the final blend, and it shows tart cherry and blackberry fruit alongside notes of tea and dry earth minerality, with bright acidity making it a fine mate for herb crusted salmon or pork.” —Rich Cook, July 26, 2016

90 Points, Wine Review Online
“Continuing in the same vein as the exceptional 2013 vintage, MacRostie’s basic Russian River Valley pinot is a shining example of a more elegant, restrained style. It exhibits inviting red-fruit aromas, hints of spice and mouth-watering acidity on the palate. This is a superb food wine and ready to drink now.” –Robert Whitley, July 12, 2016

90 Points, Wine Advocate
“Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2014 Pinot Noir Thale’s Vineyard is scented of red cherries, raspberry preserves, dried herbs and fertile earth. Fresh, medium-bodied and elegantly styled, the palate is soft and fruity with good length.” —Lisa Perrotti-Brown, June 2017

93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
From a vineyard in the Middle Reach area of the appellation, which is relatively warm, this shows an intensity of earthy forest and black tea as well as cardamom. Velvety thick, it has a freshness of acidity that buzzes along on the palate, prompted by flavors of cranberry, cherry and tangerine. —Virginie Boone, Feb. 1, 2018

92 Points, Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide
“The producer’s original source of Chardonnay, Sangiacomo grapes have figured into this wine since 1987, this vintage of which is astounding in tropical, fleshy layers of elegance, flecks of freshly cut pear providing further succulence. Richly textured, it’s balanced while robust.” —Virginie Boone, October 2016

95 Points, Wine Review Online
“The Sangiacomo chardonnay has long been one of MacRostie’s most powerful statement wines, so the stunning 2014 is hardly a surprise. This beauty exhibits inviting notes of lemon oil and baking spice, with fresh acidity that lifts the fruit and cleanses the palate. Among the finest California chardonnays I have sampled this year.” —Robert Whitley, August 2, 2016

93 Points, Wine Review Online
“A Chardonnay for lovers of all things lemon. It’s all here–Meyer and Sorrento lemon, lemon crème, lemon zest, lemongrass and lemon blossom with a touch of oak and stone minerality, with a long integrated finish that is a MacRostie trademark. It’s no lemon!” –Rich Cook, July 12, 2016

92 Points, PinotFile
“28th vintage making wine from Sangiacomo. This wine is meant to be special, representing only 4% of the fruit that MacRostie gets from Sangiacomo Vineyard. Grapes came from four blocks of Sangiacomo Vineyard: Rich Kiser, Kiser A, Kiser B and a Petaluma Gap site called Roberts Road. Gently whole cluster pressed, racked to French oak barrels for fermentation where primary and malolactic fermentations were completed. The wine was aged on the lees with occasional stirring for 10 months. 12 barrels were chosen, 2 of which were new and the rest used for previous vintages. Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. A ripe fruited wine of great appeal with aromas of fresh citrus, honeysuckle, barrel and buttered popcorn. Defined by lively acidity and lemon-driven flavor, with a slightly creamy texture, a hint of nutty oak, and some finishing length.” —Rusty Gaffney MD, June 18, 2016

91 Points, Wine Spectator
“Generous plum, blackberry and raspberry form the core flavors. Moderately rich and deep, with a lingering persistence that brings the tea-laced tannins to the forefront. Nice length. Best from 2018 through 2024.” —Jim Laube, Sept. 30, 2017

92 Points, The Tasting Panel
“Toasty and lush nose; rich, dense and generous with elegant fruit flavors and crisp acid structure; long, deep and bright.” —Anthony Dias Blue, February, 2017

91 Points, Wine Advocate
“The 2014 Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay gives notes of ripe apples and pears over hints of baking bread, crushed stones and allspice. The medium-bodied palate gives a good amount of elegant, understated savory and mineral flavors with a silken texture and refreshing finish.” —Lisa Perrotti-Brown, March 1, 2017

90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
“This wine has a voluptuous rich-oak character, complemented by ripe apple and full-bodied concentration. It celebrates a warm, generous vintage in its ability to offer plenty of fruit and acidity, delightfully balanced by a lime chaser.” —Virginie Boone, March 2017

92 Points, Wine Review Online
The Wildcat Mountain bottlings always please me – great acid, complex interplay of fruit and winemaking choices, rich texture and crisp finish are there every vintage. The 2014 emphasizes apple, citrus, honey and a spicy note. This is my kind of cocktail white, but it’s also a player at the table alongside creamy fish preps. Another winner! — Rich Cook, Dec. 6, 2016

91 Points, Pinot File
Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. A polished, refreshing wine with clean aromas of lemon, pineapple and brioche leading to flavors of lemon, vanilla and toasty, buttery oak. Easy to drink, with uplifting energy, generous fruit flavors and admirable balance. Score: 91. — Rusty Gaffney, Dec. 1, 2016

91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
“Earthy in anise and blue fruit, this wine is inexplicably crisp and plush at the same time, showing the allure of the variety in its rose petal aromas. Medium-bodied and velvety, it follows through in cassis and pomegranate flavors.” —Virginie Boone, April 2017

90 Points, Wine Advocate
“Pale ruby in color, the 2014 Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir gives notes of Bing cherries, cranberries and red roses with hints of wild thyme, underbrush and black pepper. Medium-bodied, understated and with a pleasantly earthy edge to the palate, it gives a good intensity of red berry flavors and firm grainy tannins, finishing long.” —Lisa Perrotti-Brown, March 1, 2017

92 Points, Pinot File
“Vineyard is owned by Steve MacRostie and his partners Nancy and Tony Lilly. The vines are planted in sparse volcanic soils and must withstand the maritime breezes off the Pacific Ocean. Vines planted in 1998 and 2000. Dijon and Pommard clones. The grapes were gently de-stemmed into open-top fermenters, 3-day cold soak, inoculated yeast fermentation, cap management with a combination of pump overs and punch downs. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels. Light ruby red color in the glass. Cozy aromas of cherry, spice and worn leather. Elegant in the mouth in a middleweight style, offering an array of juicy, dark red fruit flavors accented with toasty, smoky oak. Silky and easy to cozy up to, with a finish that lingers appealingly.” —Rusty Gaffney, Aug. 7, 2017

92 Points, Wine Review Online
“You can count on MacRostie’s Wildcat Mountain to deliver the food friendly acidity that makes for a fine table companion. This vintage focuses on bright red fruit with rich oak spice and notes of damp earth and mushroom adding complexity, finishing with a zesty feel that invites a revisit. If you’re starting to think Thanksgiving, this is a good place to start.” —Rich Cook, Aug. 15, 2017

91 Points, JamesSuckling.com
Aromas of cherry, lemongrass and orange peel. Medium to full body, tangy fruit and acidity combination and fresh finish. Drink or hold. — James Suckling, May 23, 2017

by Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr
August 16, 2016

“Here are some excellent chardonnays that are reasonably priced for what they deliver:”

2014 MacRostie Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
“Steve MacRostie has made chardonnay the name of his game by using several excellent vineyards in Sonoma County. This introductory chardonnay sets the foundation for his single-vineyard chardonnays from Wildcat Mountain ($40) – our favorite – and an austere, food-friendly Dutton Ranch ($46). Pineapple aromas give way to a softly textured wine with balanced acidity in the Sonoma Coast version.”

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