Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge 2004 Marcassin

Classification	Cru Classe
Type	Red
Brand	Marcassin
Vintage	2004
Country	United States
Region	Sonoma
Grape	Pinot Noir
Volume	0,75
Condition	Perfect
Label	Perfect
Drinkable	-2018
Stock	0

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (95)

Once again, the 2004 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge, which always comes from Dijon clones, displays extraordinary Vosne-Romanee-like notes of forest floor and blue and black fruits intermixed with some truffle, smoked meats, and root vegetables. Dark, round, and lush, this sumptuous Pinot Noir is a hedonistic/intellectual thrill ride that should be drunk over the next 6-8 years.

Marcassin Estate continues to grow, although still ever so tiny, with just over 20 acres of tightly spaced vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. They also supplement their estate bottlings with purchased fruit from vineyards owned by the Martinelli family which they help manage, the Three Sisters Vineyard for Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir from the Blue Slide Vineyard. Their dominant Chardonnay clones continue to be based on the old Wente clones taken from the Hudson and Hyde Vineyards, and the Mt.Eden clone. The Pinot Noir material is dominated by California heritage clones. Little changes under the firm’s leadership of Helen Turley and her husband John Wetlaufer (now married 42 years), and as someone raised in Maryland, I am proud to say they were schooled at the renowned St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. They have always been committed to the highest quality of wines possible. It is akin to being tutored by a great master to sit down and taste through their series of Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. They added a few wrinkles this time by throwing into the tasting a 2005 Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet, which was completely obliterated by their own Chardonnays, and with the Pinot Noirs, a highly rated grand cru red Burgundy from the 2005 vintage that didn’t fare particularly well either. Their point was that not only are their wines superior (and I would certainly agree with these comparisons), but also that some of the most famous names in Burgundy have more sizzle and snobbery behind them than actual quality. The Pinot Noirs are very complex and need lots of aeration/decanting to strut their stuff. They continue to remind me of grand crus from Morey St.-Denis, especially wines such as Ponsot’s Clos de la Roche because of the following. NOTE: Prices noted are from the winery’s mailing list. These wines sell for 2 to 3 times more in the secondary market.

Winespectator (91)

Displays spicy sweet-sour wild berry, raspberry and black cherry fruit, with a complex underbrush, herbal, mushroom edge. Full-bodied, intense and focused, ending with a long, persistent finish.

BOW (8.25)