First Summa Vineyard from my allocation. It is quite nice. Still needs a few years.
The body feels thicker than other Pinots I’ve had. Plum pudding, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, highlights of pomegranate & blueberries, mix berry cola, licorice nibs, dry herbs, moist volcanic clay, limestone marl, dry twig, dry crushed rocks, some grilled meats, dry tobacco, used leather, barrel shavings, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, fresh & withering, dark, red, flowers, excellent round acidity and a well balanced, tensioned, structured with a well polished finish that lasts a minute.
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Boston Wine & Poker, Brookline, NH: Tasted blind. This was paired with the 2005 vintage, and I am proud that my tasting note was that this was very similar, but younger. This was still very full-bodied, but not as cloudy as the 2005, with the same smoky quality, and more tartness. From Michael C.'s cellar.
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Opened, poured and let sit about 35 min. Then: Citrus/orange on the nose. Taste is red fruit; orange/pine; sort of typical R-M pinot profile; longish finish that gets a touch sour sour towards the end of the glass (45 min after first sip). Medium body; softish mouthfeel; acidity is OK; no tannins; still some structure, but not sure how long it will last. Pleasant pinot, kind of monotone taste. Based on this bottle, I wouldn't wait to long to drink.
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PnP, consumed over 3 hrs. Aromas exploding from the glass, flavors in waves. Pomegranate, cherry, warm spice, orange peel, eucalyptus. Nice tannins. Drinking well now. I had this on the deck for a nice summer evening, but would be a great food wine.
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An elegant New World Pinot with well-integrated black cherry, sarsaparilla, spice and subtle eucalyptus, good acidity and nice tannins. First one I've had in awhile, it is drinking well now but seems to have the characteristics to keep going several years at least.
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Delicious sour red cherries, floral, and spice notes on the nose and smooth palate with hints of orange rind culminating in a long finish. Drinking beautifully!
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This is really what you want a Pinot to be. Raspberry and black cherry cola. Mature, near peak, little bit of a signature orange peel note towards the finish and still has amazing structure. I'm not sure how much upside potential this one may have....maybe another year or so potentially? Hard to assess, but overall I'm really quite happy that I opened this one tonight and was a great pair to a crock pot pork loin with butternut squash and shallots, with almond green beans. Drink or hold another year.
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Pop and pour. Tasted after finishing the balance of an opened bottle of 2017 Rivers Marie Occidental Vineyard Pinot. Dark purple. Nose initially offers that Pinot funk, wet earth, compost, and wet wool/sweat socks. After letting the wine open up, the nose shows blackberries and an herbal sage- basil note. The wet earth funk is still there as well. Nice spicy orange peel blackberry notes on the intro. Bright acidity. Still shows a funky earthy bass note as the wine opens up.
After a day refrigerated under Vacu-vin, this wine has improved. The exposure to air has been good. Dark fruited with a dried tangerine peel note, and woodsy element as well. Raised my impression.
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By the time I got to this one, it was actually quite flat. I think it had been opened for a little bit. I do remember enjoying this one quite a bit more when I opened a bottle of it. I was getting some black tea and cigar notes primarily. A review on the same wine (same bottle) said rhubarb and mint and I think I agree with that as well. There were definitely muted dark red fruits present. Dirty cherry twizzler. This is a medium+ bodied wine and it really has always been this way. As the wine apparently was swinging like Tyson right out of the gate (See Shay's note), it definitely slid down the back of the hill. If you open this one up, drink it fast! But you probably need to put your bottles of this one in the rotation. CT says drink thru 2028... although I don't completely disagree with this one, I think the OPTIMAL drinking window is coming to a close on this one before it starts to go to tertiarycharacter-landia.
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Drinking really well at the moment. I popped and poured this, and while it could have used a 30min-1hr decant, it really came alive out of the bottle after the first glass. 93-94 for me.
My main thought here is how elegant this is. Not overpowering with fruit but certainly not thin in structure. Black cherries, plum, spiced rhubarb and some chamomile on the nose. The palate is open for business with a vein of acidity down the middle alongside underripe red and black fruits, herbal spice, black tea and some mint. I didn’t necessarily find some of that RM signature orange zest, but blood orange had its profile all over this in a restrained way. The way this bottle is trending, I could see this maybe showing a slight uptick in integration, but I’m hard pressed to say this will get better…just different. The only other 2016 RM Pinot I’ve had was Silver Eagle (darker, more rich than this Summa), so I wonder how the other Pinots are drinking…
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My first Summa of this vintage. Dark red cherries, orange zest, spice, evergreens, thyme, mushroom. Very smooth and as usual with R-M Summa, a real treat. Summa and OV Summa continue to be my favorites of the lineup.
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In a sweet spot. Voluptuous and supple, this has certainly shed some baby fat. It maintains the signature of RM style, with candied orange rind, bright red plum, and some winter spice. It’s fresh, well balanced, with a sucrose edge. Both food friendly and a total crowd pleaser.
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This has that distinctive RM Summa nose of orange peel and cherries, accented by candied ginger, cinnamon, and a touch of smokey oak spice. The nose is quite unique and very expressive, seeming to jump from the glass. Earthy tart cherry, blood orange and strawberry-rhubarb flavors are balanced by typical RM bright acidity. The long finish lingers, leaving the impression of carrot cake, brown sugar and cherry tart. A bold, new world pinot that nonetheless appeals to my Burgundian palate.
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I have a few of these and wanted to "benchmark" them to see how they are faring. As delicious, nuanced, and balanced as this is now, it has a significant upside. The red fruit (strawberry, plum, currant) and earthiness is wonderfully expressed, but more time will bring greater depth. This was nice on day 1 and better yet on day 2. 91 pts now, but a tick or two higher in 4-5 yrs (if you have the patience).
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Opened, and poured into a decanter. Had an initial taste and then enjoyed with food (roast rack of pork with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach/garlic/onions with toasted breadcrumbs, in case you were wondering). Good purple-ruby color. Nose offers blackberries and spice. Wonderful blackberry notes with a hint of kirsch on the finish. Good depth of fruit with bright acidity to carry the fruit. Finishes with that kirsch note. Delicious.
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Opened on its own - drank 1/3 of the bottle and then finished the following night. Better to me night 1 - very tart cherry and strawberry with healthy acidity which I prefer in a domestic Pinot. Will be good for many years but was drinking well now. I love the RM style of Pinot and this one did not disappoint.
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Macerated bing cherries with some tangerine notes. Peat and a bit of funk on the finish. Pretty sophisticated- drinking well now- but has future potential.
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Opened yesterday. I enjoyed about 1/3rd of the bottle, was impressed with the wine as it hit the spot. As a bonus, we paired it with butternut squash ravioli, pumpkin seeds and some parmesan. Returned to the fridge and let it sit there overnight. Just poured a fresh glass today to enjoy watching the WTA Championships. Damn, this is an excellent bottle of CA PN. Listed ABV of 13.9%. Has the same pinot funk aroma as 2018's bottle, which also infuses the palate with a saddle leathery, smoky note. The core of the wine mixes tart cherry and pure raspberry. There is acid here, along with a crunchy, jammy fruit profile, which all mixes together for a great glass of wine. This bottle is even better from the July 2018 bottle, with no shortage of stuffing. I dig the spine that shows in the wine's finish, giving it the structure to hold it all together. Awesome Pinot Noir, and yet another vote for why I dig the RM Pinots so much. I'll be looking forward to the 2018s being released in January.
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This was a big cali pinot but it was ready to drink. Orange tinged red berry aromatics. Cherry, strawberry, earth and some orange peel. Good acidity with a bit of mouth drying tannin. Held my interest but was next to a 1996 Gouges Vaucrain which made for an interesting comparison.
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Tight, dark fruit profile. Better with air and with food. I may be drinking these too young, but they're not worth the patience to me. Prefer the R-M cabs.88+
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Prior 2 notes sum up my experience. Even though this a bigger PN than I usually like, this was extremely well done, complex, and pleasurable. Loved the depth of fruit offset by herbal and slight citrus inflection. Drinking well as PnP.
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This is a beautiful new world Pinot full of aromatic cherries accented with sage, orange peel, and wild game in a bright, lively package supported by a foundation of finely grained tannins.
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This got maybe 60 minutes of air before we dove in.
What a gorgeous wine. The best young/infant pinot I've had in a long time, and maybe ever.
Black tea, rose hips, orange zest. Perfect weight, and singing finish that really left you with several seconds to ponder, then head back for another taste. Impeccably balanced.
I'm not sure this get much better for my tastes - may pop another of this vintage in the near term.
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Book Club - Grand Finale (FMIII in the OC): Bllind: correctly guess RM Summa after only sticking my nose in the glass. This has a distinct and overt orange peel / zest aroma. Palate is red fruit and lots of strawberries and sandlewood. New world for sure. Even a little peppery note at the conclusion.
This wine is tremendous. Drinking incredible well right now, hit this one while you age the Old Vine Summa.
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Some wines with friends (My House In The South OC): Poured blind, paired with the 2016 Summa OV. These were single blind to me, as I bagged them with the intention of keeping them cloaked to me so I could get a truer sense as to the differences between the two. Showed aromatics of light tar, funk and some herb. Hard red fruit candy, smooth and lots od lovely strawberry. This is drinking with such a cool balance and polish right now, with a juicy finish that is smooth as glass. Excellent Summa and a treat to drink. My first of the 2016s and have been seeing a # of notes in CT about some of the 2016s being backward and not ready....this is squarely not one of them.
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Tasting with Will Segui (Mending Wall - Napa): Drank after the 2016 Occidental Ridge; very different nose and palate; this is much more herbal and not quite as rich and powerful; the dark cherry fruit is more in-line with a nice herbal/stem/pine forest floor note as opposed to being the primary driver; this seems to be more heavily structured than the Occidental; still, a very smooth drinker right now; give it a couple of years
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A good, enjoyable wine, but not the most outstanding Summa I have had. It’s not that it needs time as much as it needs that wild card that makes it a Summa. In other Summa’s there was always a difference maker in the flavor profile. This rendition doesn’t have that. Seems like a good quality Pinot, but not like other Summa’s I’ve had. Drink it, enjoy it for what it is. Similar in profile to many Bien Nacido Pinots I’ve had at a lower cost. If you like this style seek those out.
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Missed out on acquiring this wine in 15, and damn sure didn't want to miss out on the 16's. But, perhaps my desire for this one to be an extra year in the bottle deceived me a little. This wine has excellent structure and balance. The start is a medicinal, herbal dirty black cherry with a nice, balanced middle and acidic finish. But umm....yeah, this one isn't really ready to go yet. Still VERY drinkable. The Coravin found its way to the first glass, and then I asked myself just WTF I was thinking and opened the rest of the bottle (who am I kidding??). Hindsight? Leave this one alone for 2 years. Since I obviously won't be able to hold the other 2 for as long as they should, I'll have to stalk people who have this wine and beg for a pour.
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5/2/2024 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Great wine! Rich, deep, orange blood and strawberry flavors. Fully mature with years to go.
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4/20/2024 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 93 Points
First Summa Vineyard from my allocation. It is quite nice. Still needs a few years.
The body feels thicker than other Pinots I’ve had. Plum pudding, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, highlights of pomegranate & blueberries, mix berry cola, licorice nibs, dry herbs, moist volcanic clay, limestone marl, dry twig, dry crushed rocks, some grilled meats, dry tobacco, used leather, barrel shavings, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, fresh & withering, dark, red, flowers, excellent round acidity and a well balanced, tensioned, structured with a well polished finish that lasts a minute.
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3/26/2024 - talbot61 Likes this wine:
Boston Wine & Poker, Brookline, NH: Tasted blind. This was paired with the 2005 vintage, and I am proud that my tasting note was that this was very similar, but younger. This was still very full-bodied, but not as cloudy as the 2005, with the same smoky quality, and more tartness. From Michael C.'s cellar.
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11/11/2023 - Quiller wrote: 89 Points
Opened, poured and let sit about 35 min. Then: Citrus/orange on the nose. Taste is red fruit; orange/pine; sort of typical R-M pinot profile; longish finish that gets a touch sour sour towards the end of the glass (45 min after first sip). Medium body; softish mouthfeel; acidity is OK; no tannins; still some structure, but not sure how long it will last. Pleasant pinot, kind of monotone taste. Based on this bottle, I wouldn't wait to long to drink.
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9/4/2023 - yaCellar Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent drinking at this age. Time has given balance and taken nothing so far.
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8/9/2023 - wine-eau Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP, consumed over 3 hrs. Aromas exploding from the glass, flavors in waves. Pomegranate, cherry, warm spice, orange peel, eucalyptus. Nice tannins. Drinking well now. I had this on the deck for a nice summer evening, but would be a great food wine.
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2/24/2023 - wine-eau Likes this wine: 93 Points
An elegant New World Pinot with well-integrated black cherry, sarsaparilla, spice and subtle eucalyptus, good acidity and nice tannins. First one I've had in awhile, it is drinking well now but seems to have the characteristics to keep going several years at least.
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12/11/2022 - VinoDiver Likes this wine: 95 Points
Well balanced with bright fruit and food finish. Drank well as a pnp but air won’t hurt.
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10/23/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious sour red cherries, floral, and spice notes on the nose and smooth palate with hints of orange rind culminating in a long finish.
Drinking beautifully!
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8/23/2022 - mflesh wrote: 95 Points
This is really what you want a Pinot to be. Raspberry and black cherry cola. Mature, near peak, little bit of a signature orange peel note towards the finish and still has amazing structure. I'm not sure how much upside potential this one may have....maybe another year or so potentially? Hard to assess, but overall I'm really quite happy that I opened this one tonight and was a great pair to a crock pot pork loin with butternut squash and shallots, with almond green beans. Drink or hold another year.
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7/13/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
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6/30/2022 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Rich, delicious dark cherry fruit with earth flavors, excellent structure, ample finish, not quite as sweet and floral as the Occidental
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6/16/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious sour red cherries, floral, and spice notes on the nose and ripe palate with hints of orange rind culminating in a long finish.
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2/12/2022 - t_moderne wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Tasted after finishing the balance of an opened bottle of 2017 Rivers Marie Occidental Vineyard Pinot.
Dark purple.
Nose initially offers that Pinot funk, wet earth, compost, and wet wool/sweat socks.
After letting the wine open up, the nose shows blackberries and an herbal sage- basil note. The wet earth funk is still there as well.
Nice spicy orange peel blackberry notes on the intro. Bright acidity.
Still shows a funky earthy bass note as the wine opens up.
After a day refrigerated under Vacu-vin, this wine has improved. The exposure to air has been good.
Dark fruited with a dried tangerine peel note, and woodsy element as well.
Raised my impression.
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1/14/2022 - mflesh wrote:
By the time I got to this one, it was actually quite flat. I think it had been opened for a little bit. I do remember enjoying this one quite a bit more when I opened a bottle of it. I was getting some black tea and cigar notes primarily. A review on the same wine (same bottle) said rhubarb and mint and I think I agree with that as well. There were definitely muted dark red fruits present. Dirty cherry twizzler. This is a medium+ bodied wine and it really has always been this way. As the wine apparently was swinging like Tyson right out of the gate (See Shay's note), it definitely slid down the back of the hill. If you open this one up, drink it fast! But you probably need to put your bottles of this one in the rotation. CT says drink thru 2028... although I don't completely disagree with this one, I think the OPTIMAL drinking window is coming to a close on this one before it starts to go to tertiarycharacter-landia.
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1/13/2022 - Shay.Aldriedge Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking really well at the moment. I popped and poured this, and while it could have used a 30min-1hr decant, it really came alive out of the bottle after the first glass. 93-94 for me.
My main thought here is how elegant this is. Not overpowering with fruit but certainly not thin in structure. Black cherries, plum, spiced rhubarb and some chamomile on the nose. The palate is open for business with a vein of acidity down the middle alongside underripe red and black fruits, herbal spice, black tea and some mint. I didn’t necessarily find some of that RM signature orange zest, but blood orange had its profile all over this in a restrained way. The way this bottle is trending, I could see this maybe showing a slight uptick in integration, but I’m hard pressed to say this will get better…just different. The only other 2016 RM Pinot I’ve had was Silver Eagle (darker, more rich than this Summa), so I wonder how the other Pinots are drinking…
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8/4/2021 - budman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth as silk. Pairs well with food.
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7/24/2021 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
My first Summa of this vintage. Dark red cherries, orange zest, spice, evergreens, thyme, mushroom. Very smooth and as usual with R-M Summa, a real treat. Summa and OV Summa continue to be my favorites of the lineup.
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5/15/2021 - yaCellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Everything you expect, with an extra pop of acid and mint.
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5/5/2021 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
In a sweet spot. Voluptuous and supple, this has certainly shed some baby fat. It maintains the signature of RM style, with candied orange rind, bright red plum, and some winter spice. It’s fresh, well balanced, with a sucrose edge. Both food friendly and a total crowd pleaser.
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11/25/2020 - GrapeScott wrote: 92 Points
This has that distinctive RM Summa nose of orange peel and cherries, accented by candied ginger, cinnamon, and a touch of smokey oak spice. The nose is quite unique and very expressive, seeming to jump from the glass. Earthy tart cherry, blood orange and strawberry-rhubarb flavors are balanced by typical RM bright acidity. The long finish lingers, leaving the impression of carrot cake, brown sugar and cherry tart. A bold, new world pinot that nonetheless appeals to my Burgundian palate.
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11/21/2020 - Haggis Likes this wine: 91 Points
I have a few of these and wanted to "benchmark" them to see how they are faring. As delicious, nuanced, and balanced as this is now, it has a significant upside. The red fruit (strawberry, plum, currant) and earthiness is wonderfully expressed, but more time will bring greater depth. This was nice on day 1 and better yet on day 2. 91 pts now, but a tick or two higher in 4-5 yrs (if you have the patience).
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11/20/2020 - t_moderne wrote: 93 Points
Opened, and poured into a decanter. Had an initial taste and then enjoyed with food (roast rack of pork with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach/garlic/onions with toasted breadcrumbs, in case you were wondering).
Good purple-ruby color.
Nose offers blackberries and spice.
Wonderful blackberry notes with a hint of kirsch on the finish. Good depth of fruit with bright acidity to carry the fruit. Finishes with that kirsch note.
Delicious.
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10/30/2020 - Guarded by Griffs wrote: 91 Points
Fruit forward and bold. It could have lasted a couple of more years.
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9/19/2020 - royalscam wrote: 94 Points
Boy, do I love this effort, too bad last bottle. It's hard to go wrong with Rivers-Marie.
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9/1/2020 - Cbartel wrote: 93 Points
Opened on its own - drank 1/3 of the bottle and then finished the following night. Better to me night 1 - very tart cherry and strawberry with healthy acidity which I prefer in a domestic Pinot. Will be good for many years but was drinking well now. I love the RM style of Pinot and this one did not disappoint.
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6/28/2020 - SMZ wrote: 91 Points
These Rivers pinots are always solid, but never outstanding
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5/7/2020 - Guarded by Griffs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice. Jammy fruit on the front with a peppery spicy finish that lasts a long time. Could sit in the cellar longer.
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4/14/2020 - Bob23 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blood orange and deep dark cherries. Luscious, but not sweet - definitely American, but with good acidity to balance the strong fruit.
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1/26/2020 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Macerated bing cherries with some tangerine notes. Peat and a bit of funk on the finish. Pretty sophisticated- drinking well now- but has future potential.
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1/16/2020 - jbaron wrote: 91 Points
Jammy and saturated. Could use some time to settle into a serene place.
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12/24/2019 - NaturalizedTexan Likes this wine: 94 Points
An excellent Pinot Noir, fruity complex and silky smooth. More Burgundian than typical Cali PNs
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10/31/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened yesterday. I enjoyed about 1/3rd of the bottle, was impressed with the wine as it hit the spot. As a bonus, we paired it with butternut squash ravioli, pumpkin seeds and some parmesan. Returned to the fridge and let it sit there overnight. Just poured a fresh glass today to enjoy watching the WTA Championships. Damn, this is an excellent bottle of CA PN. Listed ABV of 13.9%. Has the same pinot funk aroma as 2018's bottle, which also infuses the palate with a saddle leathery, smoky note. The core of the wine mixes tart cherry and pure raspberry. There is acid here, along with a crunchy, jammy fruit profile, which all mixes together for a great glass of wine. This bottle is even better from the July 2018 bottle, with no shortage of stuffing. I dig the spine that shows in the wine's finish, giving it the structure to hold it all together. Awesome Pinot Noir, and yet another vote for why I dig the RM Pinots so much. I'll be looking forward to the 2018s being released in January.
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10/18/2019 - short and confused wrote: 93 Points
This was a big cali pinot but it was ready to drink. Orange tinged red berry aromatics. Cherry, strawberry, earth and some orange peel. Good acidity with a bit of mouth drying tannin. Held my interest but was next to a 1996 Gouges Vaucrain which made for an interesting comparison.
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10/17/2019 - TMethvin1 wrote:
Amy 5
Tom 4
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2/20/2019 - BrunelloBob wrote: 88 Points
Tight, dark fruit profile. Better with air and with food. I may be drinking these too young, but they're not worth the patience to me. Prefer the R-M cabs.88+
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1/10/2019 - Eric.S Likes this wine: 93 Points
Prior 2 notes sum up my experience. Even though this a bigger PN than I usually like, this was extremely well done, complex, and pleasurable. Loved the depth of fruit offset by herbal and slight citrus inflection. Drinking well as PnP.
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10/30/2018 - poppacork Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a beautiful new world Pinot full of aromatic cherries accented with sage, orange peel, and wild game in a bright, lively package supported by a foundation of finely grained tannins.
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8/21/2018 - ageverett Likes this wine: 97 Points
This got maybe 60 minutes of air before we dove in.
What a gorgeous wine. The best young/infant pinot I've had in a long time, and maybe ever.
Black tea, rose hips, orange zest. Perfect weight, and singing finish that really left you with several seconds to ponder, then head back for another taste. Impeccably balanced.
I'm not sure this get much better for my tastes - may pop another of this vintage in the near term.
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7/25/2018 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much better bottle than the one we had a few months ago. #bottlevariation.
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7/23/2018 - brigcampbell wrote:
Book Club - Grand Finale (FMIII in the OC): Bllind: correctly guess RM Summa after only sticking my nose in the glass. This has a distinct and overt orange peel / zest aroma. Palate is red fruit and lots of strawberries and sandlewood. New world for sure. Even a little peppery note at the conclusion.
This wine is tremendous. Drinking incredible well right now, hit this one while you age the Old Vine Summa.
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7/21/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Some wines with friends (My House In The South OC): Poured blind, paired with the 2016 Summa OV. These were single blind to me, as I bagged them with the intention of keeping them cloaked to me so I could get a truer sense as to the differences between the two. Showed aromatics of light tar, funk and some herb. Hard red fruit candy, smooth and lots od lovely strawberry. This is drinking with such a cool balance and polish right now, with a juicy finish that is smooth as glass. Excellent Summa and a treat to drink. My first of the 2016s and have been seeing a # of notes in CT about some of the 2016s being backward and not ready....this is squarely not one of them.
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5/29/2018 - tcufletch Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasting with Will Segui (Mending Wall - Napa): Drank after the 2016 Occidental Ridge; very different nose and palate; this is much more herbal and not quite as rich and powerful; the dark cherry fruit is more in-line with a nice herbal/stem/pine forest floor note as opposed to being the primary driver; this seems to be more heavily structured than the Occidental; still, a very smooth drinker right now; give it a couple of years
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4/29/2018 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 91 Points
A good, enjoyable wine, but not the most outstanding Summa I have had. It’s not that it needs time as much as it needs that wild card that makes it a Summa. In other Summa’s there was always a difference maker in the flavor profile. This rendition doesn’t have that. Seems like a good quality Pinot, but not like other Summa’s I’ve had. Drink it, enjoy it for what it is. Similar in profile to many Bien Nacido Pinots I’ve had at a lower cost. If you like this style seek those out.
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3/12/2018 - mflesh wrote:
Missed out on acquiring this wine in 15, and damn sure didn't want to miss out on the 16's. But, perhaps my desire for this one to be an extra year in the bottle deceived me a little. This wine has excellent structure and balance. The start is a medicinal, herbal dirty black cherry with a nice, balanced middle and acidic finish. But umm....yeah, this one isn't really ready to go yet. Still VERY drinkable. The Coravin found its way to the first glass, and then I asked myself just WTF I was thinking and opened the rest of the bottle (who am I kidding??). Hindsight? Leave this one alone for 2 years. Since I obviously won't be able to hold the other 2 for as long as they should, I'll have to stalk people who have this wine and beg for a pour.
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