Waits-Mast 2018 Mariah Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mendocino Ridge

95 points                                                               
A fantastic boutique Piknot Noir discobvery from Waits-Mast. Highly recommended.

95 Points Wine Enthusiast "Cellar Selection": (Aug/Sept 2022): "Quite flavorful and nicely structured, this well-concentrated wine grown at 2,300 feet in elevation is worth keeping to enjoy how it develops over time. Engaging raspberry, red cherry and redwood aromas are followed by mouthfilling, ripe black fruit flavors on a full body braced by moderate, fine-grained tannins. Best from 2026."

"Waits-Mast Cellars began in 2005, crafting their first barrel of Pinot Noir, and within two years, Brian Mast and Jennifer Waits watched their dreams become a reality with their boutique brand focused on high-quality Pinot Noir. Shalini Sekar joined the team as the winemaker in 2013 and came from a background in music with a Master’s Degree in Flute and Piccolo Performance but shifted her focus to studying Enology and Viticulture and sharpened her skills at Williams-Selyem and Copain Custom Crush.

The Mariah Vineyard is sustainably farmed and found in the Mendocino Ridge AVA at 2300 feet above sea level, resulting in more sunlight hours because of its position above the fog layer. The 2018 vintage has a density not seen in previous vintages with an intensely bright color and layers of complexity that begin to unfold as soon as a glass is poured and continues into the long, complex finish.