Look! What’s on Tap? MacMurray Estate Vineyards
Fans of old Hollywood, this wine tasting is for you. This week, we tasted the MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Russian River Valley Pinot Gris. For those not in the know, the MacMurray Vineyard was once the farming and ranching retreat for Hollywood legend Fred MacMurray (of Double Indemnity and My Three Sons fame). In the late nineties, E. & J. Gallo purchased the ranch and turned it into the vineyard it is today.
Cindy Saadeh (the owner and co-founder of Wine Nook) recently had the opportunity to tour the main MacMurray Estate Vineyard. This is a private vineyard, so having the opportunity to take in the lovingly restored ranch and its buildings was quite the privilege. Not to mention the feast for your eyes that is the Russian River Valley!
While in California, she got to sample many different wines — as you can imagine — but this MacMurray wine she brought home specifically to taste with her team.
The Tasting
Wine: Bottle of MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Russian River Valley Pinot Gris
Kim: The initial aroma was a mineral, earthy one, like walking into my Grandfather’s garden and smelling peas as I picked them. Sweet and paired well with our simple lunch. The flavors of green apples and pistachios came to mind too for some reason.
Cindy: I thought it had an earthy aftertaste and was prominent on exhale. There was a citrus taste in there as well as a little hint of pear. Quite dry. It caused a tingly sensation that spread across the palate.
How Do We Compare?
MacMurray Estate Vineyards details this wine as having, “an expressive, perfumed nose and offers layered aromas of white flowers, Asian pear and baked apple. Signature white peach, ginger and dried fig notes appear on the palate…” We definitely got the pear and apple notes! The ginger totally escaped us, but we do agree this wine had some great layers of complexity to it.
Final Thoughts?
- Strongest flavors were apple and pear.
- Silky-smooth and dry wine.
- Overall, we would give this 5 out of 5 Taps.
