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
History — Searching for prime, undiscovered vineyard land in the late 1990s, the Molnar family found the land that would become Obsidian Ridge Vineyard in the not-yet-formed Red Hills appellation high on the back side of the Mayacamas Range.
To Nicholas Molnar, patriarch of the Molnar family, it felt similar to finding Poseidon's Vineyard in the southernmost section of Carneros nearly 30 years earlier — an area untested but with great potential. Geographically, however, Obsidian Ridge was the exact opposite of Poseidon's Vineyard, whose seaside location is ideal for cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
At 2,640 feet, the site is covered with black, glassy Obsidian rock — surely Cabernet country. So, we planted 105 acres of Bordeaux clones (including a little Rhône-based Syrah) on a piece of land that was formerly an abandoned walnut orchard. As the pictures can attest, there was quite a bit of obsidian rock to pull out. But you can’t beat the views.
About the same time, other pioneer growers moved in, and now Red Hills Lake County, one of the North Coast’s newest appellations, is establishing itself as a premier Cabernet growing region. We’ve also gotten a bit of press ourselves. Come up and visit us sometime, won't you?
What makes this wine so special? Click on Obsidian Ridge Vineyard to find out more.