McHenry Vineyard

Swan Clone Pinot Noir

9.21 ratings
9.21 pro ratings
Santa Cruz Mountains, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
Jay Kline

This is my first experience with the 2017 Swan Clone, a wine that hasn’t been made since 2014. The wine pours a hazy garnet. Soaring aromatics on the nose. One can almost smell the red woods that surround this tiny 2 acre vineyard perched high up on Bonny Doon Road only a handful of miles from the Pacific Ocean. A beguiling combination of fresh, bruised red forest berries and pie crust. On the palate, very primary with a mix of red and dark fruits with some earth and a touch of baking spice. Medium tannin and high acid with a long, saline finish. The finish just goes. Even better with food, this is a wine with a long future. It’s always a treasure to drink the Pinot Noirs of McHenry. Only 48 cases made.

This is my first experience with the 2017 Swan Clone, a wine that hasn’t been made since 2014. The wine pours a hazy garnet. Soaring aromatics on the nose. One can almost smell the red woods that surround this tiny 2 acre vineyard perched high up on Bonny Doon Road only a handful of miles from the Pacific Ocean. A beguiling combination of fresh, bruised red forest berries and pie crust. On the palate, very primary with a mix of red and dark fruits with some earth and a touch of baking spice. Medium tannin and high acid with a long, saline finish. The finish just goes. Even better with food, this is a wine with a long future. It’s always a treasure to drink the Pinot Noirs of McHenry. Only 48 cases made.

Aug 16th, 2021