#WineWednesday Wine of the Week: 2014 Masút Pinot Noir Eagle Peak, Mendocino, CA

With our thoughts turning to all the delights of Fall, pumpkin spice lattes, butternut squash bisque and cozy cashmere sweaters (*swoon*), it is with great pleasure that I introduce our latest #WineWednesday Wine of the Week: the 2014 Masút Pinot Noir Eagle Peak Estate Vineyard from Mendocino, California.

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Pinot Noir is undoubtedly the patron red grape of Fall. Its lighter body and savory, earthy fruit flavors provide a nice transition from the light whites and rosés of Summer. It also pairs incredibly well with many of your favorite Fall dishes – more on that later! While Burgundy, France is the birthplace of this revered grape, many of you may also be smitten with the plethora of delicious California Pinot Noir options available. If so, I think you will enjoy this delightful incarnation from Mendocino, located approximately 3 hours from San Francisco and about as far north in California wine country as you can get.

The 2014 Masút Pinot Noir hails from the estate vineyards of a well known winemaking family and offers oodles of Pinot Noir deliciousness including black and red cherry fruit flavors, a delightful earthiness and satisfying, food-friendly acidity which make it a fabulous companion at the table. Please read on for all the deets and I hope you enjoy this week’s selection. Also, feel free to share it on Twitter (don’t forget to add #WineWednesday) or save to your fave Pinterest board using the tags located in the upper left corner of each photo!

Brothers Ben & Jake Fetzer

Who it’s from: The Masút Winery was founded in 2009 by Jake and Ben Fetzer, sons of the late Bobby Fetzer, one of Medocino’s best known winemakers. The brothers grew up in the vineyards of Mendocino following in their father’s footsteps. In 1994, Fetzer purchased a 1200 acre property in Mendocino and named it Masút, a Native American word meaning “dark, rich earth.” He was intrigued with the hillside site of fast draining soil, desirable sun exposure and marine influenced winds and his goal was to grow the finest Pinot Noir possible. Unfortunately, in 2006 Fetzer passed suddenly in a tragic rafting accident. Despite his untimely passing, the brothers forged onward in memory of their father to produce their “small batch” Masút Pinot Noir which debuted in 2011.

Sorting the freshly harvested Pinot Noir grapes!

Where it’s from: Eagle Peak is located in the coastal mountains of Mendocino County. In October of 2014, the location was recognized as its own American Viticultural Area as Eagle Peak, Mendocino County. It is comprised of 26,260 acres which are marked by coastal afternoon breezes, elevations ranging from 800-3,000 feet and a cornucopia of microclimates. The Eagle Peak AVA also has substantial diurnal shifts, the variation between high and low temperatures occurring in a specific location during the same day, which are essential for producing prime Pinot Noir. It’s thin, well-drained soils are also ideal for growing the finicky Pinot Noir grape. These conditions allow the Fetzers to grow truly expressive and unique Pinot Noir grapes.

Wine by the (Geeky) Numbers:
Vineyard Blocks – 6, 7, 12, 13, 14
Pinot Noir clones – 115(50%), 23(33%), 777(17%)
Rootstock – 101-14MG, 44-53M
Yields – 2.9 tons/acre
Harvest Dates – Sept 4th-10th
Cooperage – French Oak (50% new)
Aging – 15 months Sur lie (click here for more info)
Bottling – Unfiltered (click here for more info)
Production – 1,800 cases

The Glamorous Gourmet’s Tasting Note: This medium-bodied, garnet red wine displays fragrant aromas of black and red fruit and earth. On the palate, flavors of raspberry pastille, spiced cherry and dusty earth accompany a bright, food friendly acidity. Youthful, chewy tannins are well balanced and follow through on the lengthy, mineral-tinged finish.

Pair it with: This delightful Pinot is incredibly versatile at the table and will pair beautifully with many of your Fall favorites such as succulent roast chicken and hearty soups and stews. Here on the blog, I highly recommend pairing this wine with some of our favorite recipes including: Quick Coq au Vin, Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Mushrooms & Caramelized Onions and Roasted Chicken, Sage, Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Salad.

MSRP: $45 (for purchasing information, please e-mail stephanie@theglamorousgourmet or call 561.317.6663)

Cheers,