Our Mirassou California Pinot Noir displays fresh fruit flavors of pomegranates, cherries and currants with complementing aromas of strawberries, pomegranates and cherries. This wine is at its best if enjoyed within a year of release, but can age in the bottle for up to three years if carefully cellared.

Balancing intense fruit flavors with delicate aromas and subtle hints of oak, Mirassou wines embody the optimism and pioneering spirit passed down through six generations of the Mirassou family. Featuring a bright, approachable style, this wine honors the Mirassou family's heritage as the pioneer of California Pinot Noir while appealing to a new generation of wine enthusiasts.

Review

Robert Parker Review: The 2008 Pinot Noir is a soft, slightly herbal effort revealing hints of cola, plum and berry fruit offered in a medium-bodied, straightforward style that is hard to beat for the price. Both wines are best drunk in their first year of life. Both of these offerings are excellent values. Moreover, there are 250,000 cases of the Chardonnay and nearly 600,000 cases of the Pinot Noir (all from Central Coast and Lodi fruit). Purchasers should not expect blockbuster wines, but discounters will undoubtedly have them for under $10 a bottle.-RP

Wine maker notes

The Mirassou California Pinot Noir is made with carefully selected California fruit from several regions including Monterey County and Sonoma County. The California appellation allowed the winemaker to choose the best fruit from each region, which acts as the foundation of this fruit forward style of Pinot Noir. Our winemaker, working in close partnership with the viticulturists, created an intensely flavorful Pinot Noir that reflects the terroir of these regions. To protect the flavors of the fruit, the grapes were harvested in the cool of the evening and early morning and cold soaked prior to fermentation. The grapes were destemmed but not crushed to retain the whole berries for fermentation. The grapes were fermented on the skins, but pressed early to avoid harsh tannins from the seeds and skins. Fermentation occurred at an average of 80° to 85° Fahrenheit for five days using predominately Premier cuvee yeast strains. The winemaker's aim with our Mirassou California Pinot Noir was to gently guide the flavors and components along their journey from vineyard to the bottle giving special attention given to the balance between fruit, weight, and texture. The resulting wine is approachable while retaining the hallmark fruit-forward characteristics of Mirassou wines.