MacMurray Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir

A Pinot from California

Pinot is a thin-skinned grape that needs a cool climate, such a Burgundy or New Zealand. In the US, it does best in Orgeon, but cooler parts of California also have a go, some successfully.

This wine has come from a distinctly warm climate and I don't find it benefits from that.

Fruit quality is good enough and the winemaking technique is deft. But it feels like damage limitation - the fruit is overripe, lacking freshness and complexity. Overbaked and overpriced.

MacMurray Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir 2015, Russian River Valley (Great Western Wine, £27.50) farmyardy nose, baked dark berry and bramble fruits, oaky spice and glycerol. Porty and alcoholic; soft texture and warming finish with slightly drying tannins.

The wine does has its supporters, however; the 2012 won Gold at LA International Wine Competition, the 2011 won Gold at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition and wine-searcher.com gives it an aggregated critics' score of 90.