The winemaker referred to here is Susan Doyle, who earned her Pinot chops in places like Burgundy before she got to MacMurray Ranch. Every year, she searches and sets aside the vineyard blocks that are showing extraordinary flavor. The result is this wine: a couple hundred cases, rarely gets far from the ranch.

Clonal selection shows discretion – power and elegance. Traditional style, with vivid flavors and structure. Wild strawberry, black cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, truffles.

The Central Coast is a big place, with lots of great little nooks hidden in the hills. Most of the grapes for this wine came from the historic Olson Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Very cool in every sense of the word.

A mid-weight wine full of the “Pinot profile” of red and black fruit flavors. Cherry, ripe blackberry, dark currants.

Grace and substance characterize this wine. It was fermented in steel, which gives it all that bright fruit pizzazz. Part of the lot was left on its lees for a few months in mellowed French oak barrels, and that’s where the nice round body and mouth-filling viscosity come from. Reminiscent of a classic Alsatian Pinot Gris.

A beautiful golden straw color invites you in. Good expression of white peach, fig and citrus flavors. Hints of honeydew melon add a little weight on the palate.

The Russian River Valley is Pinot paradise for many wine lovers. MacMurray Ranch, itself, sits in the heart of the Russian River Valley, and this wine shows how it helps to know the neighborhood. Nicely balanced between the savory and fruit flavors that make good Pinot Noir great.

A subtle oak lacing holds together deep black cherry, red cherry and raspberry aromas. Earthy foundation of mushroom, spice, clove flavors.

If you are looking for the best Pinot from the best places, you really should explore the MacMurray Ranch range. This example, from vineyards near the Petaluma Wind Gap, is one of the best values on the Pinot Noir landscape. Very likeable.

Ruby red color, with herb and earthy undertones. Big fruit on the nose, evolving by turns on the palate: raspberry, black cherry, currants flavors.

The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is another of those little pockets of Pinot perfection that MacMurray Ranch winemaker Susan Doyle keeps exploring for her wines. At the south end of the Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills Pinot is a real discovery.

Deep violet color, spicy, savory. Lots of dark cherry and blueberry fruit flavors presented in a ribbon of round tannins. This wine actually feels good. Limited supply.