HISTORY LIVES IN THE VINEYARDS OF MACMURRAY RANCH AND THE WHOM YOU KNOW CHAMPANGE WISHES PANEL ENDORSES THE MACMURRAY 2007 PINOT NOIR, SONOMA COAST. IT IS THE ONE OF THE BEST REDS FOR YOUR MANHATTAN FEBRUARY!
Whom You Know is pleased to kick off our coverage of MacMurray Ranch! It is one of the premier Pinot Noir producers in the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley, and has been a farmstead since the early 1850s, when Col. Hugh Porter returned from the Mexican war and built a home there for his family. It is absolutely beautiful as you can see from the picture above!
He chose a place in a bend in the river, where Porter Creek now flows through meadows, vineyards, and hills on its way to join in the water’s rush to the sea. Clear springs ran out of the hillsides around the valley floor, and the land was generous. Wild oats grew in abundance, and wildflowers bloomed after winter rains.
Porter’s family lived on the land for several generations, farming livestock and market crops in the rich silt soils of the valley floor. In 1941, actor Fred MacMurray, a legend of Hollywood’s Golden Era, bought the ranch brought his family there to enjoy the natural wonders of Sonoma County and to share the solid, rewarding lifestyle of a gentleman rancher.
For MacMurray and his family, Hollywood was work, and the ranch was home. He raised prize-winning cattle, and the children rode horseback through the hills. He added on to the ranch, buying land when neighbors wanted to sell. For 50 years, the MacMurray Ranch was nurtured under his hand.
In 1996, the Gallo family bought the ranch from the MacMurray family and began their current term as caretakers of the land. They restored the original buildings, planted trees along the creeks, and planted grape vines behind the farmhouse.
Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris wine grapes now flourish where cattle once roamed. The ranch covers more than 1500 acres on both sides of the Russian River, and only about 450 acres are under vine. In addition to the Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, the ranch carries a few acres of Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel.
The old homestead is still shaded by giant oaks at the edge of a meadow. Most of the neighbors are now farming for flavor and making world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. But there are still a few diversified farms nearby, dairy and cattle and market crops, that are signposts pointing to a past when land was everything, and the future was measured in generations.
At Whom You Know we will be reviewing a few of these wines. We began with the MacMurray Ranch 2007 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast and we could not have been more pleased.
The Whom You Know Champagne Wishes Panel raved:
Just Breathe! The MacMurray Ranch 2007 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast is a delicious red. And I can now say I am a Sonoma Coast Pinot fan. A big fan. California is one of the most diverse wine regions in the world. With close to 100 grape varieties grown in almost 10 viticultural areas. It includes dozens of different microclimates and soil types, as well as a very individualistic set of winemakers like MacMurray Ranch. Some of these winemakers have global experience, which adds to and deepens that diversity. MacMurray Ranch produced a classic and affordable Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Dark garnet color with a nice berry aroma. Maybe raspberry, cherry or a ripe dark fruit. The aroma also lingers with a earthy and a tad rustic sense. This is a bottle that you should certainly let breathe before you drink it and I highly recommend a decanter. That will help it resolve a bit and show more diversity and texture over time. It will also taste smoother with a little breathing time. Enjoy this scrumptious wine especially with a au poivre steak. Loved it with a peppery finish.
From the Sonoma Coast wine region, this Pinot Noir has elegant varietal fruit character expressing rich aromas and flavors of red fruits and fresh, earthy notes. Restrained when young, it will evolve into a smooth, complex wine with time in the bottle. What can I say. I'm a Sonoma Coast Pinot girl and I thought this was a classic, affordable SC PN. Aromas of raspberries, earth, rocks. Flavors that were far meatier than the flavors suggest, with berry and cherry fruit. A bit flat-footed in the midpalate at present, but should resolve with some more time in the bottle. Nice earthy and clove finish. Dark garnet color and a nose on opening that was a tad rustic and showing some ripe dark fruit nuances with a light backing of earthy components. Firm entry and again that sense of rusticness that did resolve a bit over time showing a little more texture and personality with time.
MacMurray Ranch is located in the heart of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. The ranch was owned for 50 years by the late actor Fred MacMurray of My Three Sons. It was sold to E&J Gallo after his death. The Fred MacMurray ranch in the Russian River produces the finest inexpensive Pinot made in the United States. Delicious soft, spicy red fruits with fresh acidity and a charming, mouth coating warmth on the finish. Perfect with white meat! From the Sonoma Coast wine region, I found this Pinot Noir to have elegant varietal fruit character expressing rich aromas and flavors of red fruits and fresh, earthy notes. I tasted a small amount of sweet dark cherry fruit, with a long woody finish. It seems fairly medium-bodied. It was very easy to drink, pre-dinner and during dinner. I think it pairs perfectly with grilled meats and fish and is a refreshing alternative to my usual white wine. It tasted fairly light and elegant on the palate. I think over time in the bottle this wine will evolve even more. I would highly recommend this Pinot when looking for an everyday wine. I also believe that due to the complex flavors it would make a perfect hostess gift, as it will be enjoyed by all the guests. For the price I really think MacMurray are onto a winning formula!
Intense, fruity and complex, the MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir 2007 Sonoma Coast is definitely not a mild and retiring variety of red wine. It was deceptive at first when I swirled it in the glass and took the initial whiff. The aromas are fruity, that of dark red fruits like plums and cherries, but after that first sip, I was struck by the complexity of the different layers of fruit, along with an earthiness, spice and a kick at the very end. It's definitely a wine that nicely complements a red meat dish and perhaps a hearty pasta entree. Conversely, it's nice for drinking on its own too. Sipping thru a glass slowly, you'll find that this wine mellows out a bit. Lastly, this wine is a good value for a Pinot Noir, you'll definitely get some bang for your buck.
