I’ve had a opportunity to hang out with Mark Ryan founder, Mark McNeilly on a couple of occasions in the past year — a downright awesome guy to chat wine with. A vibrant personality, Mark is the mastermind behind Megan Anne Cellar. Mark wanted to produce Oregon Pinot Noir for many years and was not only married in Oregon but regularly spends time visiting the Willamette Valley. He relies on the winemaking talents of former Evening Land winemaker Isabelle Meunier, to craft his Pinot Noir and Chardonnay bottlings. The new wine releases come from the 2015 vintage in Oregon which saw a great deal of heat during the growing season but a late ripening period that saw cooler fall temperatures.
Look to the 2015 Megan Anne ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) which shows beautiful dark fruit flavors and aromatics. Just as good was the 2015 Megan Anne ‘Chehalem Mountain’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 92) which utilizes fruit from the Lachini Vineyard and shows a beautiful feminine character. Learn more about these great wines at https://meganannecellars.com Here are the new wine releases by Megan Anne Cellars
2015 Megan Anne ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- This rather deep hued wine begins with heady aromas of rose petals, black forest cake and black truffle oil. The combination of weight and tension here is simply lovely which combines with the rich black fruit and black truffle flavors. Downright delicious now, this wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2017-2027- 92
2015 Megan Anne ‘Chehalem Mountain’ Pinot Noir- Considerably lighter in color than the 2015 ‘Dundee Hills’ bottling, the 2014 Megan Anne ‘Chehalem Mountain’ Pinot Noir, sourced from the Lachini Vineyard, opens with a bouquet of cran-pomegranate, red rose and suggestions of blood orange rind. Lithe and light on its feet, this bears delicious red fruit flavors that connect with a nice tension. This wine offers a wonderful contrast to their ‘Dundee Hills’ bottling, showing off its feminine side. Drink 2017-2027- 92
2015 Megan Anne ‘Black Love’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Black Love’ by Megan Anne Cellar is sourced from both Chehalem and Dundee Hills fruit. The wine was aged in 60% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. This wine shows a massive aromatic profile with dried sage, cigar box, black truffle crudo and Chinese black tea. Rich and dense, the wine showcases wild blackberry pie, black cherry compote and a touch of milk chocolate flavors that connect with a lovely minerality. This gorgeous effort will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2027- 92