Reviews:
93+pts Robert Parker Jr's
The Wine Advocate Issue
#196 August 2011
91pts Wine & Spirits Magazine October
2011
Notes at Release:
As I reflect on thirty years of making Pinot Noir at Mount Eden,
there is one wine that stands out as old and profound: the 1956
Martin Ray that I tasted in 1998.
Yes, this is a bit of trivia to most, yet it was a revelation to
me. The energy, youth and mere deliciousness of that wine told me
that Pinot Noir from these vineyards has the stamina to go forty
years and be sublime. This is the hallmark of great wine
worldwide.
2009 was again a drought year, the third in a row which gave the
vines added stress. Harvest conditions were intense - late summer
heat combined with the dry soils of the meager rain during
winter. Small berries were the norm with consequent
concentration in the fermentation tanks. All the fermentations were
natural without any added yeasts and the new wines were aged in
Burgundy barrels the entire time without movement.
Buoyant aromatics of red berries, rose petals and earth combine
with the signature nuances of dill and anise. Lively on the palate
with classic Pinot flavors of raspberry, blueberry and herb, there
is notable acidity with overall elegance of character give promise
for evolution.