One of the great stops in the Russian River Valley, MacRostie was founded by fellow Whitman College graduate, Steve MacRostie. Speaking to Steve a few years back, I was enchanted by his vision to craft terroir-driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir many years before most people were following that model in Sonoma. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen has a illustrious history in the wine industry having an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has worked in the enology laboratory of Jackson Family Wines before working at Clos du Bois, Oyster Bay as well as Sonoma-Cutrer. She has a really good set of new release wines.
MacRostie sources from some great vineyards including Dutton Ranch, Sangiacomo, Martinelli and Bacigalupi, and from Steve’s Wildcat Mountain Vineyard which he purchased decades back. I have always enjoyed wines from the ‘Wildcat Mountain Vineyard’ and this year’s rendition the 2016 MacRostie ‘Wildcat Mountain’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) has marvelous range and a silky texture. This is one for the cellar. I was totally blown away with the 2016 MacRostie ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which shows incredible texture and plush red fruits. Learn more about this great Sonoma winery at https://macrostiewinery.com/ Here are the great new wines by MacRostie.
2017 MacRostie ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay - The 2017 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay is a seriously good new wine by MacRostie. On the nose this yields bright lemon cream with Pink Lady apple and shades of wild mushroom that round out the aromatics. The palate shows good freshness and weight, with bright lemon oil, Mandarin orange zest and a seriously good saline steak that runs through the wine. Finishing strong with citrus cream and minerals, this excellent effort is best savored over the next seven years. Drink 2019-2025- 91
2018 MacRostie ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- Right away you are allured by the bright lemon zest aromas that meld with shades of white raisin and nectarine that take shape in the glass. Soft and round, with a generous mouthfeel, this shows an enticing texture, as the wine unveils green apple, honeydew melon and lemon cream flavors that mingle with minerals on the palate. Fresh, lively and very good in its youth, the 2017 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay will cellar well over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2026- 91
2016 MacRostie ‘Wildcat Mountain’ Chardonnay- The 2016 ‘Wildcat Mountain’ Chardonnay by MacRostie. Golden in the glass, the wine opens with saline drenched roasted hazelnuts with lemon oil and vanilla cream that all mingle nicely in the glass. The palate combines great weight and freshness with hugely satisfying lemon creme brûlée flavors with green apple accents and wild mushroom. The mid-palate range, salinity and minerality really satisfies. Enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade. Drink 2019-2029- 93
2016 MacRostie ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- A seriously good value, the ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir by MacRostie screams class with its bright red fruit and cola with citrus rind aromatics that all impress. The palate is plush, delivering both a silky texture and a lithe mouthfeel. Plush and dense red fruits dance with blood orange and kumquat flavors with a kiss of cola. Delicious now, enjoy this over the next eight plus years. Drink 2019-2025- 93
2017 MacRostie ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 MacRostie ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir opens with bright strawberry and cran-pomegranate with cola accents on this expressive nose. The palate has good freshness and a lovely dose of minerality that sits alongside the rather forward red fruit flavors. The plush texture really entices. Drink 2019-2025- 91
2016 MacRostie ‘Thale’s Vineyard’ PInot Noir- The ‘Thale’s Vineyard’ is located in the Russian River Valley AVA. The wine shows good ripeness on the nose with bright bing cherry and raspberry cordial aromatics that connect with a hint of cola. The palate is plush, delivering medium-bodied red fruit and citrus rind flavors. Forward and delicious now, this will continue to evolve well over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2026- 91