Dec 30, 2022
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Vision Cellars
| Owner(s) | Lil MacDonald, Mac McDonald |
| Web site | www.visioncellars.com |
| Link to this site |
Proprietor and winemaker Edward Lee (affectionately known as Mac) McDonald is one of the few African-American winemakers in California. He grew up in Texas where his father was a moonshiner. His epiphany and experience with Burgundy wines led to him founding his label with his wife Lil in 1995 after spending 35 years working for Pacific Gas & Electric Co. The first wines came from the 1997 vintage.
He currently produces multiple Pinot Noirs including appellation wines from Anderson Valley and Sonoma County, and vineyard-designate wines from Cole Ranch Vineyard in Mendocino County, Chileno Valley Marin County, Rosella's Vineyard, Garys' Vineyard and Las Alturas Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The style shows attractive richness yet with a modicum of elegance and the wines have received very favorable wine press.
The wines are sold primarily through the website and a mailing list.
Articles About Vision Cellars
2009 Pinot Noir Summit (7.16 4/18/2009)
Garys’ Vineyard 2004 Horizontal Tasting (7.21 7/9/2009)
Historic California Old Vine Pinot Noir Vineyards Pulled Out or Planted Shortly After 1980 or Lacking Verifiable Planting Information (12.8 8/30/2020)
Marin County Pinot Noir Celebration (6.32 7/16/2007)
Memoirs of a Wine Trip Well-Taken (6.5 11/26/2006)
On the Pinot Event Trail (9.3 2/22/2012)
Small Sips of More California Pinot (7.17 5/7/2009)
Reviewed Wines
2007 Vision Cellars Coster Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
1,130 cases, $36, screw cap.
·
Fresh aromas of dark red cherries, spice, cola and mint. Flavors of dusty red cherries and a hint of oak
caramel and spice. Richly flavored but not jammy and some persistence on the finish.
Reviewed April 18, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Vision Cellars Coster Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 286
cases, $42.
·
This is a wine of impeccable balance and breeding and one of the top wines
tasted at the Pinot Noir Shootout. Attractive Bing cherry and brown spice aromas with a
thoroughly pleasurable core of cherry and berry fruit with fine-grain tannins and a smooth,
lingering finish. This wine has the full monty.
Reviewed January 1, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Vision Cellars Coster Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2%
alc, $45, screw cap.
·
Rather sensual scents of red cherries, spice and cola. Very
tasty cherry and cranberry fruit nicely spiced. Richly flavored but not jammy.
Nicely balanced, soft ripe tannins and some persistence on the finish.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 Vision Cellars Chileno Valley Marin County Pinot Noir
14.6% alc.. Previous vintages of this wine have been popular. Owner and winemaker
Mac McDonald is one of the few African American winemakers in California. He
sources grapes from multiple appellations including the Santa Lucia Highlands. The phone 707-887-1619. There is good retail
distribution.
·
Very light
in body, this wine is young and still disjointed with noticeable acid and heat on the
backend.
Reviewed July 16, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Vision Cellars Chileno Valley Marin County Pinot Noir
14.6%.,
·
Very light
in body, this wine is young and still disjointed with noticeable acid and heat on the
backend.
Reviewed July 16, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Vision Cellars Chileno Valley Marin County Pinot Noir
14 % alc..
·
The nose and
palate feature tart cherry and cranberry flavors. There is a hint of alcohol in the nose. Styled in a
lighter fashion, the lively acidity provides a clean
Reviewed November 26, 2006
ARTICLE »
2004 Vision Cellars Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.4% alc..
·
Moderately dark-purple color. Nicely appointed aromas of black
cherries, spice and wildflowers. Thick flavors of black cherries and cola with a
silky but firm texture and a touch of astringency on the finish.
Reviewed July 9, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Vision Cellars Coster Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
1,130 cases, $36, screw cap. · Fresh aromas of dark red cherries, spice, cola and mint. Flavors of dusty red cherries and a hint of oak caramel and spice. Richly flavored but not jammy and some persistence on the finish. Reviewed April 18, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Vision Cellars Coster Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 286 cases, $42. · This is a wine of impeccable balance and breeding and one of the top wines tasted at the Pinot Noir Shootout. Attractive Bing cherry and brown spice aromas with a thoroughly pleasurable core of cherry and berry fruit with fine-grain tannins and a smooth, lingering finish. This wine has the full monty. Reviewed January 1, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Vision Cellars Coster Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc, $45, screw cap. · Rather sensual scents of red cherries, spice and cola. Very tasty cherry and cranberry fruit nicely spiced. Richly flavored but not jammy. Nicely balanced, soft ripe tannins and some persistence on the finish. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 Vision Cellars Chileno Valley Marin County Pinot Noir
14.6% alc.. Previous vintages of this wine have been popular. Owner and winemaker Mac McDonald is one of the few African American winemakers in California. He sources grapes from multiple appellations including the Santa Lucia Highlands. The phone 707-887-1619. There is good retail distribution. · Very light in body, this wine is young and still disjointed with noticeable acid and heat on the backend. Reviewed July 16, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Vision Cellars Chileno Valley Marin County Pinot Noir
14.6%., · Very light in body, this wine is young and still disjointed with noticeable acid and heat on the backend. Reviewed July 16, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Vision Cellars Chileno Valley Marin County Pinot Noir
14 % alc.. · The nose and palate feature tart cherry and cranberry flavors. There is a hint of alcohol in the nose. Styled in a lighter fashion, the lively acidity provides a clean Reviewed November 26, 2006 ARTICLE »
2004 Vision Cellars Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.4% alc.. · Moderately dark-purple color. Nicely appointed aromas of black cherries, spice and wildflowers. Thick flavors of black cherries and cola with a silky but firm texture and a touch of astringency on the finish. Reviewed July 9, 2009 ARTICLE »