2004 Marguerite Ryan Cellars Birkmyer Vineyard Wild Horse Valley

14.9% alc., 52 cases, $40. Marguerite (“Peggy”) Ryan is one of many illustrious winemakers trained by Warren Winierski at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. She is a law school graduate who moved to California, enrolled in enology classes and began her career at Stag’s Leap as a lab technician. She started her own label in 1996 releasing 70 cases of Pinot Noir and has subsequently sourced grapes from several prestigious vineyards like Pisoni and Garys’ in Santa Lucia Highlands. · Dark purple in color, this beauty starts off with gorgeous black cherry fruit and floral scents. Prodigious black cherry and black raspberry fruit nicely spiced. Mouth-coating, almost syrupy texture. A tiny bit of heat peaks out on the finish. This is an opulent wine that is fat on the palate and demands contemplation. Drink now. Reviewed February 18, 2008

Winery: Marguerite Ryan Cellars
From article: Wild Horse Valley