Sorry, The Wine Spies doesn't support Internet Explorer anymore. Please use a newer browser to continue browsing our wine collections.
What We Say 2007 'La Masia' Chardonnay
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:
Today’s selection from Marimar Estate Winery is a delicious rich and flavorful Chardonnay that hails from the Russian River Valley region. If you love bold but balanced chardonnay, take a good look at today’s special offering.
SECRET SAVINGS ALERT:
Subscribe to our Daily Dispatch (above) and you’ll always know what our Top Secret coupon code of the day is. Every day we issue a new members-only code that entitles you to have Ground Shipping included on orders of six or more and, sometimes, an added discount!
Mission Codename: Generational Excellence
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Send Agent Red back to Marimar Estate Winery, a new Operative favorite, to acquire their delicious, age-worthy Don Miguel Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Marimar Estate
Wine Subject: 2007 Don Miguel Vineyard Chardonnay – Russian River Valley
Winemaker: Marimar Torres
Backgrounder: Chardonnay is arguably the greatest of all white grape varietals, showing its influence in the legendary sparkling wines of Champagne, the great whites of Burgundy and of course its expression as ‘the’ white wine of California. Chardonnay represents over 50% of the planted white grapes in California with nearly 100,000 acres planted. With such a great number of wines made from this grape, it stands to reason that finding wines of great quality would be hard, but look no further. In this wine, we have found perhaps the ideal expression of the California Chardonnay.
The Russian River Valley AVA was officially designated in 1983, but many of the wines in the region used the designation as early as the 1970s (early in California’s wine history) with the many of the vines having been first planted in the early 1900s. The Green Valley sub-appellation, where today’s wine is carefully grown, is ideally suited to Chardonnay. Read Agent Red’s mission report and tasting notes below for the full intel on this exciting wine.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Light golden-yellow, this wine maintains solid coloring right out to the edge of the glass. Showing a springy and fast-moving surface when swirled, this wine leaves behind long, skinny legs that emerge quickly, and then sidle slowly down the inside of the glass.
Smell – Citrus and flowers with lemon zest, lemon curd and lemongrass, intertwined with white acacia flowers and subtle honeysuckle. As the wine warms a little, vanilla and softly toasted oak emerge.
Feel – Velvet-smooth on the tip of the tongue and across the mid-palate, the wine settles in after a moment, adding a softly dry grip that starts at the edges of the palate, and works its way inward. As the wine goes slightly dry, it shows off a lush medium-bodied structure that fills the palate. Bright acidity and structured tannins take gentle hold, as flavors dwindle slowly.
Taste – Delicious and slightly bold with flavors of tart apples, citrus, soft vanilla, pineapple, subtle white spice and toasty oak – with a soft minerality and a bright acidity that give support to the rich flavors long into the finish.
Finish – Seemingly endless, flavors start of bold and tart, with high citrus flavors that slowly yield to white flowers, oak, soft spice and minerality.
Conclusion – The 2007 Don Miguel Vineyard Chardonnay – Russian River Valley is a bold, delicious, creamy estate grown and estate bottled delight. We tend to enjoy our Chardonnay on the fuller side, rather than those that show weak backbone. This wine delivers the sort of bold aromas and complex flavors that we really enjoy. Today’s Marimar Estate Chardonnay is a delicious treat that is long on character – but but with a light-hearted side that gives the wine balance. It certainly has its serious side, but it is also great fun to drink!
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Marimar Torres
WINE EDUCATION: UC Davis
CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Founder and Proprietor, Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Produce a wine as an extension on farming the vineyard; we don’t have a winemaker because the grapes make the wines; they are our stars. Our job and our philosophy is to guide, or “shepherd” the grapes into expressing best the fruit of our vineyards.
FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 1991
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Greetings, Marimar. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Don Miguel Vineyard Pinot Noir – Russian River Valley today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
MARIMAR TORRES: I hope everyone who reads this will come visit our winery, we love to receive visitors!
RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
MARIMAR: My family has grown grapes and made wine in Spain since the 17th century – I think that wine is in my blood!
RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
MARIMAR: Probably DRC!
RED: Wow, that’s some influence! For our Operativees that don’t know, “DRC” is an abbreviation for Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, which is an estate in Burgundy, France that produces white and red wine. It is widely considered among the world’s greatest wine producers, and DRC bottles are among the world’s most expensive. It takes its name from the domaine’s most famous vineyard, Romanée-Conti.
Tell me, Marimar, who do you make wine for?
MARIMAR: Since you can’t please everybody, you’d better be true to yourself and make the wines that YOU love. We work as a team – our Tech Director, our Cellar master and myself – in expressing our vineyards’ fruit in the wines. And we’ve worked together since 1994-1996, so our tastes always agree.
RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
MARIMAR: It’s an estate-grown, estate-bottled Pinot Noir from our Don Miguel Vineyard, named after my father.
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
MARIMAR: Soooo many dishes! But one of my favorites is duck, especially in a sweet/sour sauce, a very Catalan combination, like the recipe for Duck with Figs in my cookbook, The Catalan Country Kitchen.
RED: In your opinion, what makes the Green Valley so special?
MARIMAR: Our Green Valley AVA is the coolest and foggiest in the Russian River Valley – ideal for growing Pinot Noir!
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
MARIMAR: Right now I am in Spain – it was nice of you to join me here, Agent Red – where my entire family lives and works; I have a home in Sitges, near Barcelona. Spain is our #1 export market – we have an American-style Wine Club here, which is absolutely unique. Just last night we had a cheese & wine pairing followed by a dinner, with recipes from my cookbooks, at the Torres family’s restaurant – which ended at 2 am. Our Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are very much loved here!
RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
MARIMAR: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are, in my opinion, the most versatile and food-friendly varietals that exist – and ours are particularly so. Try them with most foods, without being afraid about the pairing being great in anybody’s eyes (and palates) but yours. Remember, the best wine is the one YOU like!
RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
MARIMAR: Come visit us at Marimar Estate Vineyards and Winery, an hour from the Golden Gate Bridge and 10 minutes from Sebastopol, for some unique Spanish Tapas paired with terroir-driven Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs!
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Marimar Torres
WINE EDUCATION: UC Davis
CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Founder and Proprietor, Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Produce a wine as an extension on farming the vineyard; we don’t have a winemaker because the grapes make the wines; they are our stars. Our job and our philosophy is to guide, or “shepherd” the grapes into expressing best the fruit of our vineyards.
FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 1991
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Greetings, Marimar. We are thrilled to be showing your *2007 “La Masía” Chardonnay * today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
MARIMAR TORRES: I hope everyone who reads this will come visit our winery, we love to receive visitors!
RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
MARIMAR: My family has grown grapes and made wine in Spain since the 17th century – I think that wine is in my blood!
RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
MARIMAR: Probably DRC!
RED: Wow, that’s some influence! For our Operativees that don’t know, “DRC” is an abbreviation for Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, which is an estate in Burgundy, France that produces white and red wine. It is widely considered among the world’s greatest wine producers, and DRC bottles are among the world’s most expensive. It takes its name from the domaine’s most famous vineyard, Romanée-Conti.
Tell me, Marimar, who do you make wine for?
MARIMAR: Since you can’t please everybody, you’d better be true to yourself and make the wines that YOU love. We work as a team – our Tech Director, our Cellar master and myself – in expressing our vineyards’ fruit in the wines. And we’ve worked together since 1994-1996, so our tastes always agree.
RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
MARIMAR: Today we are featuring the 2007 “La Masía” Chardonnay. It is the perfect summer wine!
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
MARIMAR: Soooo many dishes! But one of my favorites is duck, especially in a sweet/sour sauce, a very Catalan combination, like the recipe for Duck with Figs in my cookbook, The Catalan Country Kitchen.
RED: In your opinion, what makes the Green Valley so special?
MARIMAR: Our Green Valley AVA is the coolest and foggiest in the Russian River Valley – ideal for growing Chardonnay!
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
MARIMAR: This weekend is very eventful around the winery we are participating in Pinot Form and the West of Wine Festival in Occidental. Today was exciting, I received my toga for the Grecian themed dinner during Pinot Form!
RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
MARIMAR: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are, in my opinion, the most versatile and food-friendly varietals that exist – and ours are particularly so. Try them with most foods, without being afraid about the pairing being great in anybody’s eyes (and palates) but yours. Remember, the best wine is the one YOU like!
RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
MARIMAR: Come visit us at Marimar Estate Vineyards and Winery, an hour from the Golden Gate Bridge and 10 minutes from Sebastopol, for some unique Spanish Tapas paired with terroir-driven Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs!
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The approximate location of the Marimar Estate can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Marimar Estate
About This Wine:
Floral aromas of honeysuckle, characteristic of the Spring Mountain clone, come out of the glass with engaging fragrance On the palate there are hints of lemon zest and vanilla bean from the elegant oak, which enhances the complexity of the fruit and adds a note of graham crackers. An oppulent, rich and creamy wine yet fresh and crisp, with good acidity.
The Organic Don Miguel Vineyard: Named after the late patriarch of the Torres family, this organic vineyard is located in the Green Valley — the coolest, foggiest region of the Russian River, only ten miles from the Pacifi c. The European-style high density of over 2,000 vines per acre provides low yields and requires intensive labor; but the vines live longer and the grapes acquire greater concentration and fi nesse, more elegant aromas, and be er balance than with the traditional low density. Planted in the European-style high density of over 2,000 vines/acre, the yields are low and labor is intensive; but the vines live longer and the grapes acquire greater concentration and finesse, more elegant aromas, and better balance.
The Vinification: The grapes were harvested September 9-20, then gently whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented in premium French oak. The barrels were 45% new oak from the forest of Allier, coopered by Rousseau, Damy, and Dargaud & Jaegle. After undergoing 100% malolactic fermentation, the wine was aged on its lees for nine months and bo led in June 2008.
The Clones: The vineyard’s 30 acres of Chardonnay are planted with three diff erent clones. The blend of clones in the 2007 vintage is 55% See, 25% Rued and 20% Spring Mountain.
About The Winery:
Nestled in the rolling hills of western Sonoma County, the Russian River/Green Valley appellation is a perfect microclimate for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Only 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and 50 miles north of San Francisco, the site is influenced by the sea’s cooling breezes and drifting fog. That is why Marimar Torres selected this privileged location to “export” the Torres family legacy of fine wines to California.
Marimar Torres has been involved in the wine business all her life. Born in 1945 in Barcelona, Spain, she is fluent in six languages and holds a degree in Business and Economics from the University of Barcelona. She is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program, and studied Enology and Viticulture for a year at the University of California in Davis.
At Marimar Estate, she directs the activities at the winery and its two vineyards: Don Miguel, named for her late father, in Sonoma County’s Russian River/Green Valley; and Doña Margarita, after her mother, in the Sonoma Coast Appellation.
Technical Analysis:
Alcohol: 14.2%
