The Marcassin 2021 Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard is one of the most coveted and tightly allocated Pinot Noirs produced on the Sonoma Coast. Crafted by legendary winemaker Helen Turley, Marcassin wines have achieved cult status among collectors for their richness, precision, and remarkable aging potential.

Sourced from the estate Marcassin Vineyard overlooking the rugged Sonoma Coast, the 2021 vintage reflects the purity and concentration that have made the estate one of California’s most revered Pinot Noir producers. The wine reveals a deep ruby color and an expressive bouquet of wild strawberry, black cherry, raspberry, orange blossom, and rose petal, layered with subtle notes of spice, tea leaf, and citrus zest.

On the palate, the wine is silky, layered, and beautifully balanced, offering vibrant acidity and impressive depth. Flavors of ripe red berries, subtle baking spices, and delicate floral notes unfold gradually, leading to a long, refined finish. While approachable in its youth, the wine possesses the structure and concentration to age gracefully for well over a decade.

Marcassin Pinot Noir is produced using traditional, low-intervention techniques. The grapes are destemmed and cold-soaked before fermentation with native yeasts, followed by aging in mostly new French oak barrels. The wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without cold stabilization, preserving its full aromatic complexity and natural texture. As a result, some sediment or tartrate crystals may appear over time, a hallmark of authentic, minimally handled wines.

Highly allocated and rarely seen outside mailing lists and fine wine merchants, Marcassin Pinot Noir remains one of the most collectible wines from California, often compared with the finest wines of Burgundy.

Winemaking

Pinot Noir clusters are destemmed and undergo a cold soak prior to fermentation. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts, followed by aging in mostly new French oak barrels. The wines remain on their lees after fermentation and are bottled without fining, filtering, or cold stabilization, ensuring maximum purity and longevity.

Wine Details

Producer: Marcassin
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Marcassin Vineyard
Region: Sonoma Coast
Country: United States
Style: Rich, opulent, Burgundian-inspired California Pinot Noir
Production: Highly allocated

Tasting Notes

Color: Deep ruby
Aromas: Wild strawberry, black cherry, raspberry, rose petal, orange blossom, tea leaf
Palate: Silky, layered, and vibrant with bright red fruit and elegant spice
Finish: Long, refined, and beautifully balanced

Cellaring Potential

Marcassin Pinot Noir is renowned for its long aging curve. The 2021 vintage is expected to evolve gracefully for 10–15+ years, gaining complexity and nuance with time.

Food Pairing

Pairs beautifully with:

• Duck breast
• Roast chicken with herbs
• Mushroom risotto
• Pork tenderloin
• Truffle-based dishes