2014 The Loch

91 Points: Wine Spectator

The 2014 vintage was a classic Sonoma County year. Moderate temperatures, and weather conditions without rain or frost, developed the fruit slowly and evenly. Here at MacRostie, we pride ourselves on working with growers who know the land intimately. Vintage after vintage, the partnerships we have with our growers provide us with beautiful fruit. This artful blend was made from our very finest blocks and barrels of Pinot Noir from a handful of vineyards that span the Sonoma Coast. From Carneros to the Petaluma Wind Gap, Russian River Valley, and the Far Coast, the fruit for our debut vintage of The Loch was harvested from September through October of 2014.

In 2014, after more than a quarter century of making wine, we crafted our first Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. We called these wines The Loch and The Key, both as a nod to our founder Steve MacRostie’s Scottish heritage and to his early experiences as a cryptographer deciphering codes in Europe for the U.S. Army. Combining decades of winemaking mastery, with our rich history on the Sonoma Coast, The Loch, and The Key are consummate blends, artfully crafted from our best blocks and barrels of wine from the very finest vineyards we partner with. Like a secret code unlocked by our winemakers, The Loch embodies both the vintage and everything we know about making great Pinot Noir.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.7%
• cases made:

  3 Barrels
  72 Cases

• bottling date: 06/15/2016
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak. After blending, aged an additional 6 months in French oak

• fermentation:

  Three day cold soak; 3 week fermentation