Origin: Clarksburg and Monterey, CA
Grape: Pinot Noir
Year: 2017
Alcohol: 13.5%
Price point: $11
Year Reviewed: 2019
Married wine maker’s story from https://www.martysfinewine.com/sku74695_TORTOISE-CREEK-PINOT-NOIR-MISSION-GROVE-750ML
Mel and Janie are from England but both now US citizens. Mel has been in the wine business ever since leaving school and he met Janie when they were only twelve and thirteen (she played the piano and he played the guitar!) and as they grew up together, they shared a passion for food and wine. They married at 19 and 20. The couple left England to live in France in 1970 and started a company called Master Wines and began selling little known French wines in the USA. Mel was a pioneer in bringing great wine values to the USA from France.
Winemaker’s notes
Pinot Noir is a grape variety that demands optimum growing conditions. Sixty percent of our blend comes from vineyards in the Clarksburg region where the clay and loam soils combined with a cooling effect from the Sacramento Delta, balances the acidity in the ripening of the fruit. The other forty percent is grown from vineyards in the Monterey region that benefits from direct sunshine and shelter from the Pacific winds by the Santa Lucia Mountains. This is where the low temperature during the nights and the warm days are just perfect for Pinot Noir.
Where does the name “Mission Grove” come from?
Mission Grove” refers to the native Californian Olive cultivar, originally planted at the San Diego Mission by Franciscan monks. Mission olives grow throughout California, close to areas we source our Pinot Noir.
What is Tortoise Creek and where is it?
Tortoise Creek was created by Mel and Janie master, a British couple who have lived most of their lives in the wine business in both France and California. “Tortoise Creek” comes from the translation of the name of the couple’s home in Provence named “Le Riseau de Tortue” after the Tortoises who flourished in the creek alongside their vineyard.
The concept with Tortoise Creek is to work with small farmers who focus on sustainable farming, whether it is from the Languedoc Region or California. Tortoise Creek is handcrafted, small-batch wines selected and blended from growers who understand this philosophy. In 2008, Mel and Janie Master joined forces with the Sager family who own the national importing company, Winesellers, Ltd., and together they have extended the range to consists of top quality Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc. They are all blended to create the best possible representation of the varietal and offer remarkable value.
So have lots of info on this wine and winemaker, as I learned about this wine when I had to do a demo. Found the history and background very interesting and when I featured this value Pinot Noir, folks truly loved it and purchased it. I had to purchase a bottle myself to blog on it.
This ruby colored wine has some great aromas for a Pinot Noir. I get floral—white flowers and violet, lavender and eucalyptus. This heavier Pinot, which I like a heavier style Pinot, has some well-blended fruit with tastes of cherry and plum. I also get forest floor, spice and black pepper, and vegetal of mushrooms. The finish is interesting and long with pepper, clove and spice.
I recently received some flowers that smelled just like what I tasted in this wine….Funny…Right? There is a spicy and clove smell to this lovely lavender spring cut flower.
You can’t beat the price of this Pinot Noir and I can guarantee this is going to be a “crowd-pleasing” wine with any meal that has the weight to carry a heavier Pinot Noir with it. Try with pasta or a mushroom and spinach dish, lamb or beef. The spice in here is very tantalizing on your mouth and made me think of all the dishes I cook that would pair eloquently with this wine. Very versatile and will purchase again. Price point is great for a party crowd. ‘