1999 Marcassin Pinot Noir Blue-Slide Ridge Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (3/7/2025)
Cellared since release, decanted for half hour...plum red in color, with slight rust edges...cola and bbq sauce, raspberries, strawberry leaf, hoisin, dried sandalwood spice nose. Intriguing nose, but not elegant and somewhat worrisome. First sip...alc burn! F-me. Blind I would guess pushing 16...but it's only 14.4? The fruit is dark, overripe, and full of plum sauce, berries stewed in cola...huge white pepper spice, pencil, and dried out fruit...somewhat creamy and trying to be silky...but absolutely ZERO elegance, and basically drinks like a cocktail...or even rotgut for some. Glad I cellared this one for 26yrs! Geeze... (78 points)
I had the '99 Martinelli Blue Slide Ridge back on release and it showed similarly (hot, overripe, way overdone and like a chambord more than a pinot). I think it would have ended up about where your Marcassin did with the time in the cellar. I recall it being marked in the high 14% alcohol range and tasting like 16%. Here’s to the next cellar pull being more rewarding!
Buzz - I’m not sure if you saw my post last week on a similarly grim experience with an old Marcassin pinot, though the issue there was not the alcohol but the sugar.
