Martin Ray
Martin Ray
AboutMartin Ray
The Martin Ray name honours a California pioneer who made single-varietal, region-specific wines in Saratoga from 1943 through 1972. His mentor was Paul Masson, and his Saratoga property later became Mount Eden in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Courtney Benham revived the name after finding 1,500 cases of old Martin Ray wine in a San Jose warehouse, acquiring the brand in 1990.
Since 2003, Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery has worked from a historic site on the edge of Green Valley in the Russian River Valley. The winery’s twelve-acre estate is supplemented by grapes from hillside vineyards across Sonoma, Napa and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Martin Ray 2020 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
American White
$36.99
Juicy citrus, fresh pear, white flowers and apple skin appear with a touch of minerality. Oak is well integrated, and vanilla bean marks the finish. The Chardonnay comes from Cartan Vineyard and Mill Station Vineyard at Dutton Ranch. Fermentation used both selected and native yeasts, while twenty-five percent new French oak was used. The southern sites have cool day-to-night temperature shifts, while the northern sites are at higher elevations.
Angeline 2023 Pinot Noir California
American Red
$37.99
Made entirely from Pinot Noir, this dry California red offers cranberry, black cherry, plum and toasted oak. Acidity is present, the body is medium and the palate is generous, with the wood remaining discreet. The wine carries 13.8 percent alcohol and 3.6 grams per litre of sugar. Serve between fourteen and sixteen degrees Celsius. Beef fajitas, bacon-stuffed potatoes or Pinot Noir and blackberry poptails provide suitable pairing options.
Martin Ray 2021 Concrete Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Russian River Valley
American White
$49.99
Jonagold apple and Bartlett pear lead, with honeycomb, quince and a fresh squeeze of lemon adding detail. Bright acidity keeps the weighty mid-palate focused, while citrus and bergamot bring lift and aromatic clarity. Clean and linear through the finish, the Chardonnay balances ripe orchard fruit with freshness and a fine mineral edge.