McNab Ridge Winery

Rich Parducci’s family may have sold Parducci winery some years back (it was recently purchased from those buyers by Mendocino Wine Company), but Rich Parducci is still in the game. He is one of two young winemakers from name-brand Mendocino families (Greg Lolonis of Oracle Oaks is the other) to join the Coro Mendocino program in its third vintage. Coro is a cost-intensive program, given its requirement for 100% new oak, more than a year of barrel aging, and another year of bottle aging. There’s a lot invested in the wine before it can be sold, so not just anyone can play. Fortunately these guys love Mendocino, have access to good fruit, and are more or less fearless – three requisites for making good Coro.

Parducci’s freshman effort is fascinating – it shows how just 2% of a blend can give it distinction and definition. When I tasted the wine, it was impossible to miss the sweet raspberry core of fruit across the mid-palate and the pleasurable tightening of the wine as it went into the aftertaste. (I’ll get to the rest in a moment.) I knew the wine had to have a majority of Zin and was highly likely to have big doses of Syrah and Petite Sirah as well, but it was a 2% slug of Pinotage that delivered the raspberry and finish characteristics. There’s also lots of chocolate, in both the aromas and flavors, plus black cherry and cold black coffee flavors. I happen to be a fan of Pinotage so this wine works for me. I’d love to know what the rest of you think of it.

Reviewed July 4, 2006 by Thom Elkjer.