Previously recommended, but not tasting note given.Marcassin Estate continues to grow, although still ever so tiny, with just over 20 acres of tightly spaced vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. They also supplement their estate bottlings with purchased fruit from vineyards owned by the Martinelli family which they help manage, the Three Sisters Vineyard for Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir from the Blue Slide Vineyard. Their dominant Chardonnay clones continue to be based on the old Wente clones taken from the Hudson and Hyde Vineyards, and the Mt.Eden clone. The Pinot Noir material is dominated by California heritage clones. Little changes under the firm’s leadership of Helen Turley and her husband John Wetlaufer (now married 42 years), and as someone raised in Maryland, I am proud to say they were schooled at the renowned St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. They have always been committed to the highest quality of wines possible. It is akin to being tutored by a great master to sit down and taste through their series of Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. They added a few wrinkles this time by throwing into the tasting a 2005 Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet, which was completely obliterated by their own Chardonnays, and with the Pinot Noirs, a highly rated grand cru red Burgundy from the 2005 vintage that didn’t fare particularly well either. Their point was that not only are their wines superior (and I would certainly agree with these comparisons), but also that some of the most famous names in Burgundy have more sizzle and snobbery behind them than actual quality. The Pinot Noirs are very complex and need lots of aeration/decanting to strut their stuff. They continue to remind me of grand crus from Morey St.-Denis, especially wines such as Ponsot’s Clos de la Roche because of the following. NOTE: Prices noted are from the winery’s mailing list. These wines sell for 2 to 3 times more in the secondary market.Tel. (707) 258-3608; Fax (707) 942-5633

The stunning 2003 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch has a gorgeously complex nose of honeysuckle, buttered peaches, lemon oil as well as earth and hazelnut. Full-bodied, powerful, yet with good acidity, this is a beauty to drink over the next 5-8 years. Previously recommended: 2002 Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard (99), 2002 Chardonnay Three Sisters (96), 2002 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch (95), 2002 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge (95+), 2002 Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch (94), 2002 Pinot Noir Marcassin Estate (98), 2002 Pinot Noir Three Sisters (96). Tel. (707) 258-3608; Fax (707) 942-5633

The stunning 2003 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch has a gorgeously complex nose of honeysuckle, buttered peaches, lemon oil as well as earth and hazelnut. Full-bodied, powerful, yet with good acidity, this is a beauty to drink over the next 5-8 years. Previously recommended: 2002 Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard (99), 2002 Chardonnay Three Sisters (96), 2002 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch (95), 2002 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge (95+), 2002 Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch (94), 2002 Pinot Noir Marcassin Estate (98), 2002 Pinot Noir Three Sisters (96).Tel. (707) 258-3608; Fax (707) 942-5633