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Wine Recommendation
Stubbs Vineyard
2004 Pinot Noir, Estate(Marin County)
Owner Mary Stubbs teamed up with winemaker Dan Goldfield to make the transition from grower to wine producer. Dan Goldfield is a specialist in cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He worked with La Crema, Schramsberg, and Hartford Court before launching Dutton-Goldfield in 1998 with partner Steve Dutton.
The Stubbs’ 11 acre organically farmed vineyard in West Marin, which originally provided fruit for Schramsberg, Hartford Court, Copain, and Mount Tamalpais Vineyards, is made up of decomposed marine sedimentary material and Haire loam. The Chardonnay is clone 76 on 3309 rootstock and the Pinot Noir is the Dijon clone 114. Located just a few miles inland from Tomales Bay, the cool climate here allows for a long growing season. The grapes typically reach a high level of fruit intensity while retaining high natural acidity
This moderately saturated ruby red wine has notes of ripe strawberry, hay, herb patch, scrub, and garrigue, excellent varietal character, and medium body with tingly acidity. On the palate it is a woodsy wine with full flavors of strawberry, mocha, cranberry, and maple. It is ripe, but not sweet. Tannins are fine grained, and the finish is slightly tart, chewy, and mouthwatering.
Reviewed December 4, 2006 by Catherine Fallis.
The Wine
Winery: Stubbs Vineyard |
The Reviewer
Catherine Fallis
Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth. |