I fondly recall my first visit to MacRostie, hosted by fellow Whitman alum Steve MacRostie. For many years I have loved these wines, particularly the value that their entry level wines bring. MacRostie Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have quite frankly been a regional pillar in value and you can find these wines in supermarkets that span the entire United Sates. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen has a illustrious history in the wine industry. After attaining her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder she worked in the laboratory of Jackson Family Wines before working at Clos du Bois, Oyster Bay as well as Sonoma-Cutrer. The new wines are all outstanding coming from the 2020 and 2019 vintages.
MacRostie sources from some great vineyards including Dutton Ranch, Sangiacomo, Martinelli and Bacigalupi, and from MacRostie’s Estate Wildcat Mountain Vineyard which was purchased decades back. I love the new 2020 MacRostie ‘Nightwing Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is deep and concentrated, coming off very clean from this challenging vintage. which is nicely textured and shows delicious orchard fruit flavors. I adore the new 2019 MacRostie ‘Sparkling Brut’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is fresh and shows a lovely texture and silky mousse. Learn more about this great Sonoma winery at https://macrostiewinery.com/ Here are the outstanding wines by MacRostie.
2019 MacRostie Vineyards ‘Sparkling Brut’ Sparkling Wine- The 2019 ‘Sparkling Brut’ is a methode champenoise wine that spent 30 months en tirage before disgorgement in August 2022. This is very fresh on the mouth, with a ripe texture. Layers of honeydew melon and baked apple combine with good finesse on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 91
2021 Clockwise Sauvignon Blanc- The 2021 Clockwise Sauvignon Blanc was matured entirely in stainless steel and was mostly sourced from the Jewell Ranch. White grapefruit and nectarine tones combine with shades of gooseberry and stony minerals on the nose. The palate is very fresh and lithe with a soft texture upon entry. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy over the next five years. Drink 2022-2027- 91
2021 MacRostie Vineyards Rose- Sourced mostly from a cooler portion of the Thale’s Estate Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, this was fermented in both stainless steel and neutral oak barrels before bottling. A pretty salmon hue, this offers guava and cranberry flavors that mingle well with shades of kumquat and wet rock on the palate. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 90
2020 MacRostie Vineyards ‘Nightwing Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Coming from a site near the Gap’s Crown Vineyard, the ‘Nightwing Vineyard’ is set at 1400 feet and features 44 acres of Pinot Noir and 30 acres of Chardonnay. This wine is very fresh and smooth on the mouth with a sensational texture. Layers of buttercream and lemon rind dusted brioche combine with salted praline notes on the palate. Complex and quite salty, this utterly fabulous Chardonnay to enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 93
2020 MacRostie ‘Day Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Day Ranch Vineyard’ is an Anderson Valley site that is planted to a range of clonal selection Pinot Noir. The wine was stored for ten months in 25% new French oak before bottling, as it slowly unveils ripe red currants and tobacco leaf with flinty undertones on the nose. The palate comes off fresh and beautifully textured, with concentrated tart red fruit and citrus rind flavors. Enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 92