I first came across this wine at a blogging conference in Las Vegas. The Mirassou Winery vintner was at the conference sharing their various wine varieties with the all the bloggers. One thing led to another, and there I was talking wine with their marketing person and the vintner. I opted for the Mirassou Pinot Noir 2011. I was not disappointed.
Mirassou Pinot Noir 2011
The Mirassou family has been producing wine for six generations. The Mirassou wine label was specifically created to reflect their wine’s California spirit and heritage as one of America’s oldest winemaking family. David Mirassou, the sixth-generation family member has to say about their label:
“The Mirassou name is unique and can be hard to remember, but our label is easy on the eyes – just look for the sun!”
So how did they get here? In 1854, Pierre Pellier, the Mirassou patriarch sailed from France with his bride and his prized grape cuttings all in search of the best California had to offer. While they were in route, the ship ran short of drinking water. To protect and preserve his precious vines, Pierre used potatoes that were on board and inserted his cuttings into them to keep the vines alive. It worked. The couple first settled in the Santa Clara Valley in California. Through much hard work, they built a thriving network of vineyards that produced some of California’s finest wine for their time.
The Mirassou name came about when Pellier’s daughter married a neighboring vintner, Pierre Mirassou. The partnership of the two families marked the start of more than a century of wine growing in the Central Coastal region. Especially in a valley just east of Monterey, California, one of the premier areas in California to visit, and vacation.
The Mirassous family was the first to introduce Pinot Noir to California. They have been credited with developing the permanent vineyard irrigation and field pressing system that is widely used by other vintners today. Other innovations that they have been recognized for would be the introduction of steel fermentation and mechanical harvesting methods all of which have shaped the wine industry even at the current time.
Now about the wine.
This is what the winemaker has to say about their Mirassou Pinot Noir 2011:
“Fruit forward and approachable in style, our 2010 Mirassou Pinot Noir has flavors of cherry, strawberry, and red currant, which are supported by light vanilla and oak notes. This wine is well balanced with a round, full mouthfeel.
The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine were carefully selected from several of California’s most renowned regions, including Monterey County and Sonoma County. The 2010 growing season brought several challenges to these regions; a wet spring delayed bud break, and a late summer heat wave stressed the vines. But, the warmer temperatures helped the grapes to reach maturity and develop rich flavor characteristics. Although yields were lower than normal, the resulting grapes displayed remarkable quality.”
You can find Mirassou Pinot Noir 2011 by using their wine finder on their website, wine.com, amazon.com and through their store locator for the many locations it’s available. Enjoy!
This Mirassou Pinot Noir 2011 is a delightful red wine that embodies all the Mirassou family stands for. It can be served with just about any type of cuisine and for any occasion. It’s worth finding and giving it a try.
Time for a glass…
If you enjoyed reading about “Mirassou Pinot Noir 2011,” check out BV Coastal Cabernet Sauvignon, La Follette Pinot Noir North Coast, J Lohr Vineyards Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir, and La Merika Pinot Noir.