Current Release:
Molnar Family Chardonnay 2008
Molnar Family Pinot Noir 2008
Release Window: **CLOSED**
Upcoming release:
Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauv. 2008
Obsidian Ridge Syrah 2008
Obsidian Ridge HALF MILE 2007
**COMING FALL 2010**
Upon release, first crack at the wines is given to those on the mailing list.
Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2007: 90 points, Wine Enthusiast" A beautiful Cabernet that shows the promise of this Lake County appellation."
Kazmer & Blaise Chardonnay 2006: 95 points, Wine Spectator "Deliciously complex, rich and layered, with a mix of fig, apricot,
spice and smoky, toasty oak, all fanning out to subtle nuances and ending with a wonderful finish."
Molnar Family Pinot Noir 2007: 91 points, Wine Enthusiast "...lush, appealing flavors of cherries, raspberries, cedar, cola, vanilla and spices. With a silky texture, it should develop through 2013."
more praise
2008 Molnar Family Pinot Noir
1,454 cases produced
14.2% alcohol
3.73 pH
5.4 g/L titratable acidity
$30 per bottle
[TASTING NOTES] Fresh cherry, vanilla and cream burst from the glass. A complex spiciness envelopes the aroma with notes of sassafras, bramble and tea. On the palate, the wine is textured like velvet with flavors of ripe plums and bing cherries. This is a densely structured Pinot Noir that wants for decanting and pairing with rich foods, yet, the wine maintains proper acidity to showcase the vibrancy and beauty of fruit in this varietal.
[VINTAGE] Grapevines thrive under stressful growing conditions, and 2008 fit the bill. A dry winter in late 2007 was followed by a series of severe frost spells in spring that hit low-lying regions in Carneros. Our Pinot Noir blocks responded by setting a lower-than-expected crop. A low-rainfall year added to the strain, marking this vintage as the second drought year in a row in Northern California. Our vines, now over a decade old, are well established and were able to emerge strong through such stressful growing conditions. Yet, thirsty vines make for intense flavors. Clusters were small and light, but full of concentrated varietal flavor.
[WINEMAKING] The scantly-sized clusters of Pinot Noir were picked and sorted by hand at daybreak. The fruit was then destemmed into open-top fermentors, where the high skin-to-juice ratio allowed for ease of extraction. We ferment at moderate temperatures to retain vibrancy of fruit and varietal character. At the end of two weeks of fermentation, the wines were settled and placed in our signature Kádár Hungary oak barrels where they aged for 10 months.Alex Beloz, Winemaker
Michael Blaise Terrien, Founding Winemaker
Click here to download the complete 2008 fact sheet