October 18, 2007
McManis Pinot Noir
McManis Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, California, 2006
Maybe I’m just a bit of a curmudgeon, but I can’t help but cringe a little bit whenever I see a wine from a family vineyard. The idea of a family vineyard is so romantic; the same farmland tilled by multiple generations, winemaking as a family affair with the highest priority paid to the craft and quality of winemaking. With family vineyards evoking notions so perfectly in tune with the beauty of wine, it’s no wonder that every half-assed winemaker describes his swill as coming from a family vineyard.
But now that I’ve got that out of my system, I’m happy to say that the McManis Family Vineyards seems to be the real deal. This family vineyard run by Ron and Jamie McManis is a real hidden gem, producing some terrific wines at very reasonable prices. Their Pinot Noir is a brilliant purple-hued red, light-to-medium bodied with notes of earth and berries. A very nice Pinot Noir, and an excellent choice if you’re looking for a red that isn’t too big or punchy. It pairs beautifully with salmon.
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