Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch, Kutch 2017

The 2017 Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch is flat-out gorgeous. In the glass, the McDougall is deep, layered and exquisitely beautiful, from the very first taste. The wine's sheer density practically covers the whole cluster influence. Bold, dramatic and sweeping in feel, the McDougall is a total stunner. I loved it.

13.0% alc., 550 cases, This vineyard is located 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean at 935 feet elevation. Farm management is by Ulises Valdez (RIP). Planted in 1998 to clone 114. Soils are Graywacke, sandstone. 100% whole cluster, native fermentation, fruit crushed and punched down by foot, aged on the lees without racking for 11 months in 100% neutral French oak barrels. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. The aromas of dark cherry, burnt tobacco, woodland spice and bark really draw you into the glass. Seamless in a mid weight style, with flavors of spiced dark red and purple fruits that dance on the palate. More demure in this vintage, with cohesive tannins and an awesome finish displaying echos of aromatic goodness. Superb in every way, and even a little more demonstrative when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.

Very bright transparent crimson. Rich and grainy. And a real whack of ripe fruit on the palate. Quite outstanding! Gentle texture but real intensity too. Long and throbbing. Firm and dry on the end. There's a future to this wine. 13%

I really like the 2017 MacDougall Ranch from Kutch Wines, and of these excellent single vineyard bottlings, this is likely to offer the most early appeal, though it is really built for the cellar. It is a touch riper than the Bohan or Signal Ridge bottlings, coming in at thirteen percent octane, but still beautifully precise and structured with a sophisticated chassis of tannin and acidity. The bouquet offers up a lovely blend of red and black cherries, pomegranate, a touch of gamebird, lovely soil elements, woodsmoke, a hint of mustard seed and blossoming spice tones from the one hundred percent whole clusters. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with lovely mineral drive, ripe, fine-grained tannins, good acids and truly exceptional length and grip on the beautifully balanced finish. This reminds me a bit of the old Hirsch Vineyard bottlings from Burt and Ed at Williams-Selyem back in their early days. Fine, fine juice. 2023- 2055+