Molnar Family Poseidon’s Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir 2007

The 2007 Molnar Family Poseidon’s Vineyard Pinot Noir is one suave, sophisticated Pinot Noir. Seductive in the nose, it offers entrancing scents of crushed berries, cola, and plum. On the palate, the wine’s alluring aromatics follow through and mingle with hints of forest woodlands, herbs, and Asian spices. Smooth, textured, and expansive in the mouth, this mid-weight Pinot Noir is ideal for drinking now and for the next several years. For optimal enjoyment of Molnar’s enchanting 2007 Poseidon’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, we suggest you allow the wine 15-20 minutes of aeration in the glass before serving. And for most tastes, consumption at cool room temperature (60º-66º F) provides additional pleasure. Enjoy!

When Pinot Noir is as expansive and textured as the 2007 Molnar Family Poseidon’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, it needs little in the way of accompaniment to shine. In fact, this silky Pinot Noir is a joy to drink on its own. Yet, Molnar’s savory Pinot Noir has the ability to transform a meal into a feast. So, why not pair it with roast duck or chicken or a simple beef or pork roast? Spiral sliced ham, served with a savory homemade potato salad, leek tart, or cheese pie gets our nod, too. Traditional French classics such as Coq au Vin; Boeuf Bourguignon; and Rack of Lamb, served with tender young vegetables and Mediterranean garnish, provide Molnar’s delicious Pinot Noir additional opportunities to work its magic. A plate of three or four soft cheeses, served with ripe apples, provides another simple treat. Bon Appétit!

Nicolas Molnar was one of the fortunate survivors of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising against Soviet communist oppression; he managed to escape. His odyssey led him to America where in the early 1960s he discovered Napa Valley. The wines of Napa Valley reminded him of Hungary, and the land was both bountiful and beautiful. When everyone else with a few dollars and a passion for wines was buying land in the northern part of Napa Valley and planting Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in the hot zones of Napa, Molnar quietly began purchasing land and developing vineyards in the coolest part of southern Napa in a place called Carneros. In the 1960s, sheep outnumbered people in Carneros. Carneros, which lies along San Pablo Bay (the northern extension of San Francisco Bay), was considered a favored locale for agriculture by the early Spanish missionaries. Carneros viticulture thrived in the colonial period and during the Gold Rush, but since Prohibition, grazing had become the Carneros district’s only real claim to fame. Most of Nicholas Molnar’s contemporaries thought he was crazy for choosing Carneros over more favored locales in Napa. Happily for us, Molnar knew what he was doing. He planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in his vineyards, the two varietals perfectly suited to the terroir of Carneros. In 1973 Nicolas Molnar planted the now legendary Poseidon’s Vineyard, and for three decades some of the finest California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir emerged from this vineyard astride the bay that bears the name of the Greek god of the sea, only to make its way into bottles bearing the names of California’s most renowned wineries. Acacia, Heitz, Mumm Napa Valley, Joseph Phelps, Pride Mountain, and Sterling are just a few of the names that coveted Nicolas Molnar’s stellar viticultural wares, until Nicolas’ sons decided it was time for the family to do their own thing. With the assistance of Michael Terrien, one of California’s premier Chardonnay and Pinot Noir winemakers, the Molnar family began several years ago to make small batches of their own wine from the Poseidon Vineyard. Before practicing his magic at the Molnar Family’s Poseidon’s Vineyard, Michael Terrien made award winning wines for Hanzell and Acacia, where he served as both Winemaker and General Manager. His Acacia Pinot Noir garnered top awards and was rated among Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines in the world. His work at Molnar has been no less impressive. Recently, the talented Alex Beloz has joined the team to steer the course. The Poseidon’s Vineyard has proved for nearly four decades what Nicolas Molnar knew straight away: his vineyard was destined to produce exemplary Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Consequently, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the only two wines the Molnar family produces. Quantities are extremely limited. Less than two thousand cases of the Chardonnay and twelve hundred cases of the Pinot Noir with the Molnar Family name flow from the Poseidon’s Vineyard.