Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse

Producer history

Peter Michael Winery was founded by Sir Peter Michael, a British engineer and businessman, beginning with the purchase of the Knights Valley property in 1982. The estate built its reputation on Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from that mountain site before turning to the coast: in 1998 the family acquired a 400-acre property in what is now the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, planted on the first ridge-line from the coast, and put Pinot Noir in the ground there in 2006 and 2007. That Seaview Estate now yields three Pinot Noir designates, Le Caprice, Ma Danseuse and Clos du Ciel. The cellar has a long line of well-known winemakers, including Helen Turley and Mark Aubert in earlier years, followed by Luc Morlet. Nicolas Morlet, Luc's brother and one of the fifth generation to grow wine on the family estate for Champagne Pierre Morlet, took over from Luc in 2005. In 2015 Sir Peter and Lady Michael handed day-to-day operations to their son Paul and his wife Emily.

Signature pairings

• Roast duck breast with cherry and thyme — Duck has enough fat and savoury depth to meet a cool-climate Pinot without overwhelming it, and the wine's red-fruit register and bright acidity cut the richness.
• Grilled shiitake and matsutake mushrooms with soy butter — The forest-floor and mineral side of a ridge-grown Pinot echoes the earthiness of grilled mushrooms, while the wine's fine tannin stays out of the way of a delicate dish.
• Grilled pork neck with tamarind dipping sauce (คอหมูย่าง น้ำจิ้มแจ่ว) — Charred, fatty pork and the sour-savoury jaew sauce sit well with the wine's acidity and red fruit; the mild chilli in a jaew is within reach for a medium-bodied, moderate-alcohol Pinot, though heavier chilli would flatten it.