Marnet McDougall Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast 2021

Proprietor and winemaker Dan Ricciato has one of the coolest jobs in the industry. He was brought on at the acclaimed Outpost Estate on Howell Mountain to work under Thomas Rivers Brown, playing a role in several of Thomas’ many projects, including his personal label, Rivers-Marie. After several years of training, Thomas promoted Dan to manage grower relations for all of his vineyards throughout Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties. This was a major step in Dan's career, giving him unparalleled access to artisan vineyards that would ultimately inspire his own project, Marnet. Today, Dan oversees and manages over 100 vineyards for Thomas Brown...can you believe it? Because of his tight-knit relationships with farmers and countless hours driving all around Northern California inspecting each of Thomas’ vineyards, Dan gained access to superb growing sites.

His innate instincts,  impeccable fruit sourcing, thoughtful clonal selection, sustainably farmed vineyard sites, and access to Thomas’ elite-level winemaking facility make Marnet a must-have for any Pinot Noir enthusiast and collector! 

The 2021 McDougall Ranch Pinot Noir is the newest addition to the Marnet line-up. The vineyard is just north of Hirsch in the Cazadero hills, just a few miles from the ocean. The vines are planted on a knoll that is fully exposed on all sides, which means that the fruit receives incredible sun exposure during the growing season and develops thick skins while it fights off wicked winds. What results in a wine that is deeply colored and stacked with tannin, making this a Cab-Lover's delight! Structured and dense, the palate explodes with purple fruit, pomegranate, moss, and savory herbs. The texture of the tannins is thick and integrated, supported by lively acidity that reminds us that this is no Napa Pinot...truly delightful to drink and will sure to make a splash in its debut vintage!