Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/780573
{ SOMMjournal.com } 99 MacMurray Ranch Estate Vineyards is dedicated to the pro- duction of California Pinot Noir in the cool-climate regions of Sonoma's Russian River Valley and the maritime-influenced Central Coast. Five outstanding vineyards contribute to the signature of MacMurray Ranch wines: Del Rio Vineyard: Coastal soil, proximity to the Pacific with heavy fog intrusion and a diversity of clones to create the wine's spice rack. Soils are gravelly, sandy loam and silt-clay loam. MacMurray Ranch Vineyard: 284 acres of Pinot Noir is farmed at this Russian River Valley vineyard that spans two distinct climatic zones. The lower valley is cool and sends in a heavy fog, while the upper valley is coastal, warm with moderate fog intrusion. Diverse soils (sandy white loam to gravelly clay) offer up ripe, dark fruit. Laguna Ranch Vineyard: A heritage site that dates back to the 1800s, named for the largest tributary of the Russian River, Laguna de Santa Rosa. It has been producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for the past 30 years. The cooling fog off the nearby Pacific extends the growing season, and the "Sebastopol Series" soil is a combination of well-drained gravelly and sandy loam. Two Rock Vineyard: The estate's coolest Pinot Noir Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, benefitting from cool winds and heavy fog. Olson Ranch Vineyard: In the Santa Lucia Highlands, where the climate is influenced by Monterey Bay and partly shel - tered from the wind by canyons, creating several microcli- mates across the 80 different vineyard blocks with 15 unique Pinot Noir clones. MacMurray Ranch Estate Vineyards 2014 Winemaker's Block Pinot Noir is a blend of grapes from three estate vine- yards, aged in 100% French oak. It is broad and concentrated, with a supple mouthfeel. Red floral tones are intense while fresh notes of watermelon and strawberry make it even livelier. California, USA Region: Russian River Valley & Central Coast Winery: MacMurray Ranch Estate Vineyards Wine: MacMurray Ranch Estate Vineyards 2014 Winemaker's Block Pinot Noir Winemaker Boyd Morrison crafts Pinot Noir for MacMurray Ranch Estate Vineyards. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MACMURRAY RANCH ESTATE VINEYARDS PHOTO: MIKE MORSE