2007 Ferrington Vineyard, Anderson Valley
94 points
“…shows a warm sweet heart of cherries, raspberries and cola…Just beautiful.”
Wine Enthusiast
“Best of the Year 2009”
December 2009

91 points
“Elegantly styled … ripe, delicate plum, black cherry, wild berry…
rose petal and mineral.”
James Laube
Wine Spectator
February 2010

90 points
“A wine of finesse, elegance, intriguing intensity and impressive balance….”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Issue 187

90 points
“…attractive, restrained…full body; rich…spicy…good depth and overtones of sweet oak…very highly recommended.”
California Grapevine
Oct - Nov 2009

“...stunning intensity...great balance between its crisp acidity and its concentrated fruit.
Complex and layered...Striking.”
Peg Melnik
The Press Democrat
Nov 1, 2009

“A big, concentrated style, but it’s utterly juicy, smoky and dense, lifted by its bright fruit highlights.”
Jon Bonné
San Francisco Chronicle
October 4, 2009

2007 Wightman House Vineyard, Anderson Valley
“A tiny, distinct bottling made entirely from Martini clone fruit… lots of bright energy and structural guts.”
Jon Bonné
San Francisco Chronicle
October 4, 2009

95 points
“Delicious now…lush flavors of black cherries, red currants, cola and smokey oak…
big wine with sizable tannins and crisp, coastal acidity...very dry and silky…shows great elegance...”
Wine Enthusiast
“Best of the Year 2009”
December 2009

89 points
“…cherry, earth characteristics…sweet tannins, a supple, delicate personality, and unobtrusive wood….”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Issue 187

90 points
“…attractive…sweet raspberries and cherry fruit aroma…firmly structured and nicely balanced....
very highly recommended”
California Grapevine
Oct - Nov 2009

2007 Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
93 points
“…perfect to drink now for sheer luxury and decadence. Tastes so good, offering a tapestry of cherry…
mocha…sweet, smoky sandalwood…finely ground tannins and
near-perfect coastal acidity, it’s addictively likeable.”
Wine Enthusiast
“Best of the Year 2009”
December 2009

92 points
“…firm and spicy ... impressive for its range of flavors, focus and delicacy, ending with a long, lingering finish.”
James Laube
Wine Spectator
February 2010

2007 Vagon Rouge, Anderson Valley
“Another stunner from James MacPhail, this juicy, ebullient Pinot Noir… is ripe and rich with deep cherry, strawberry and raspberry notes, gentle oak spice and floral notes.”
Catherine Fallis, Master Sommelier, CWP
September 23, 2009

92 points
“…it opens slowly at this point, yet it shows real depth as it does and while its first impressions are
of misleading simplicity, it grows and grows on you as you stay with it...”
Connoisseurs’ Guide
October 2009

92 points
“… intense, complex, spicy; rich, plush, textured with a velvety mouthfeel …
Very Highly Recommended”
California Grapevine
August-September 2009

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2007 Goodin Vineyard Sonoma Coast
“A darker-hued Sonoma Coast interpretation but with complexity in its power.”
Jon Bonné
San Francisco Chronicle
October 4, 2009

Wine Enthusiast rates MacPhail:
94 points
“Just a delight and should age over the next six years”

“Smooth texture and excellent balance … Exceptional”

Ronn Wiegand, Restaurant Wine,
Issue # 130

“Spicy, with a dusty berry and fresh earth edge to the dried cherry
and wild berry fruit. Full-bodied, complex, tight and young,
but aimed in the right direction. Drink now through 2014.”
93 points
James Laube
The Wine Spectator
June 3, 2009

90 points
“…exhibits more intense aromatics of red and black fruits…youthful and pure with plenty of stuffing, it will benefit from another year of bottle age. Cellar it for a year and it enjoy it over the following 6-7 years.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Issue 187

Highly Recommended
California Grapevine
June-July 2009

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2007 Toulouse Vineyard Anderson Valley
James MacPhail's Anderson Valley bottlings show that power doesn't mean sacrificing nuance.
With 40 percent new oak, this one from a site in Philo is a fine example with its extraordinary nose:
bergamot, fenugreek, forest-floor and damp soil, with rich black fruit flavors and a soft depth.
Remarkably intriguing in its layers.
Jon Bonne
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Editor
September 20, 2009

“James MacPhail produces small lots of handcrafted pinot noir from superb vineyards in the Sonoma Coast
and Anderson Valley appellations.  They won’t be easy to find but are well worth your effort
– and hard-earned money – if you happen to prize distinctive pinot.”
MacPhail’s 2007 Toulouse is a case in point.  Fewer than 500 cases were made and the price –
modest given the quality and scarcity – ensures it won’t sit very long on any wine merchant’s shelf. 
Rich and full bodied, the Toulouse delivers intense aromas of raspberry and currant,
with a hint of spice and cedar wrapped in a decadently long finish.
Rating: 93
Robert Whitley
Creators Syndicate Wine Columnist
August 28, 2009

Wine Enthusiast rates MacPhail:
92 points
“...the texture is as fine as silk.”

“Fragrant and fine in style...”

Ronn Wiegand, Restaurant Wine,
Issue # 130

“Intense and complex, with racy wild berry and berry jam,
anise and a touch of beefy earthiness that fans out.
Full-bodied, long and persistent. Drink now through 2013.”
91 points
James Laube
The Wine Spectator

90 points
“Exceptionally charming and endearing in the mouth, with a velvety personality, no hard edges,
decent acidity, and sweet tannin…elegantly styled…”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Issue 187

Highly Recommended
California Grapevine
June-July 2009

“A complex pinot noir with aromas and flavors of dried cherry,
herbs and pepper. Notes of cranberry and caramel.”
Peg Melnik
Santa Rosa Press Democrat

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2007 Sonoma Coast
93 points
“… with tart wild strawberry and raspberry flavors giving it a sauvage edge.”
Wine & Spirits
October 2009

92 points
“…this pinot shows the fine qualities of the vintage…Really elegant.”
Steve Heimoff
Wine Enthusiast
July 2009

“Intense flavors, firm structure and long finish…”

Ronn Wiegand, Restaurant Wine,
Issue # 130

“Sour cherry and rhubarb are joined by light cedary oak, anise and floral scents,
giving this a nice range of flavor, depth and complexity, with a long, full-bodied finish.
Drink now through 2014.”
91 points
James Laube
The Wine Spectator

90 points
“….The wine’s seductive, velvety textured, plump, round, delicious style combines the best attributes of the hedonistic and intellectual schools of winemaking….”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Issue 187

90 points
“Very Highly Recommended”
California Grapevine
June-July 2009

90 points
Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines
June 2009

“A Pinot with deep flavors…Intense fruit…Great spice.”
Four Stars
Peg Melnik
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
April 22, 2009

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2007 Pratt Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
94 points
“Here’s one for the cellar… It’s rich and ripe…Shows a complex heart of black cherries, red currants,
leather and smoky sandalwood that is frankly delicious.”
Wine Enthusiast
“Best of the Year 2009”
December 2009

91 points
“This small producer has turned out a gorgeous Pinot…silky texture...complex, supple tannins…
already delicious, and should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 3-4 years.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Issue 187

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2007 Frattey Shams
Wine Enthusiast rates MacPhail:
93 points
“Offers decadently delicious waves of cherry pie filling, raspberry tart, anise, cinnamon, vanilla and cedar.”

“A supple, full bodied wine…rich fruitiness”

Ronn Wiegand, Restaurant Wine,
Issue # 130

Highly Recommended
California Grapevine
June-July 2009

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“One of the area’s best Pinot producers is the tiny MacPhail Family Wines, recently opened on Magnolia Drive.”
Heather Irwin
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
August 15, 2009

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“James MacPhail seems to bring the best out of North Coast Pinot Noir.”
San Francisco Chronicle
December 7, 2008

2006 Pratt Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 points
“A terrific, deep, complex Pinot with a great core of fruit and wonderful silky texture. Drinking beautifully now.”
PinotReport
December 30, 2008

2006 Anderson Valley MacPhail Pinot Noir
Medium light red color with an elegant, classic Pinot Noir aroma. Toasty but only just so, ripe berries, but just so! Elegant on the palate. Here's what Pinot Noir ought to be. An elegant, balanced wine. One to serve with salmon, or a roast chicken in a lush cream and cognac sauce. $45.00.

2006 Sonoma Coast MacPhail Pinot Noir
Fine rich berry aromas with the "smoky" Pinot Noir that is so classic. The Sonoma Coast indeed makes this a richer wine than the Anderson Valley. Again, a beautifully balanced wine. Lush, lingering berry flavors. Here's a wine to serve with rare roast beef. $45.00.

Narsai David
KCBS RADIO
Thursday, 24 July 2008, ON AIR: 7/29/08

2005 MacPhail Ferrington Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir [$48]
Pair James MacPhail’s talent for Pinot Noir with fruit from Heather and Kurt Schoeneman’s Ferrington Vineyard, one of Anderson Valley’s standouts, and you get this blockbuster. It’s that bigger style that has finally showed up even in Anderon Valley, but with amazing finesse and Burgundian earthiness – damp soil and pleasing barnyard aromas mix with baked cherry and raspberry for a mouthful of ripe fruit. Every note is in place here.

In other MFW news, on Sunday, December 2nd, the San Francisco Chronicle awarded the
2005 Anderson Valley Ferrington Vineyard as one of their Top 100 wines of 2007.

2005 MacPhail Anderson Valley Toulouse Vineyard
“ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT”
“absolutely brilliant,” with a “gorgeous perfume of forest floor, spring flowers, sweet currants, and cherries, medium body, sweet tannin, and beautiful structure, depth, and ripeness.” He also wrote of the 2005 Anderson Valley Ferrington Vineyard, liking the style “not dissimilar from a Cote du Beaune premier cru.”

Robert Parker Jr.
The Wine Advocate

2005 Sonoma Coast Pratt Vineyard Pinot Noir
“James MacPhail makes a whole bunch of vineyard-designated pinot noirs from fruit grown in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The suit is so strong is’s difficult to single out a favorite, but for me this year it’s the Pratt, an extraordinarily ample and complex pinot noir, concentrated with sweet berry flavors complicated with intriguing suggestions of truffles, minerals and spice That $56 is a lot of money, but you get a whole lot of wine for it.”

Mike Dunne
Sacramento Bee
December 26, 2007