This was past its prime, dull in color, and a Durand was needed to extract the cork. This was bought in 2020, from a reputable Napa seller that guarantees provenance. I think this bottle saw bad storage at some point. Drinkable aged red fruits, secondary flavors, not vibrant, but not enjoyable.
Ruby red in color. 14.1% ABV. Beautiful nose of red fruits, citrus and forest floor. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Light and ethereal. Finesse and grace in spades. Strawberry, cranberry, earth and minerals on the palate. The finish on the wine is breathtaking. Stunning Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that has aged brilliantly. Best over the next several years.
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This bottle was perhaps a bit tired, holding out more hope for my remaining one. Took awhile to sort itself after opening, and then presented more herbal and spicy than fruited. A bit spritzy on the tongue at first.
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Ripe dark red fruits and orange rind. Big and rich but with enough acidity to keep things from getting unruly. Fruit forward and crowd-pleasing style, yet lacks finesse. Lightly spritzy. This wine screams Sonoma Coast. While enjoyable enough, QPR is lacking. Does not drink the way I want a Pinot to drink. I don’t see this improving with more age, though it’s certainly going to be fine to hold for a handful more years.
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not at peak but not as primary as 2010 sonoma coast. these wines, as well as the rhys pinots need lots of age but i hope not like the pride cabs (20 yrs and still not at peak)
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Tasted with 06 Carlisle Bennet Syrah and Lillian 06 Syrah. Opened for breathing with a bit poured off for about an hour. The Pinot Noir character was immediately recognized at the table by casual drinkers. Aging well but definitely aging. Enjoy now unless your preference is for aged RM style
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Day 1: popped and poured. Consumed 1/2 bottle over two hours. Nose of sappy red and blue fruits. Flavors of ripe red and blue fruits with a sense of sweetness. Moderate complexity/finish. Far too sappy and ripe for my preference. But, seemed like there was some upside so I held back 1/2 bottle. 91. Day 2: Surprisingly fresh nose (moderate strength) of red/blue fruits with spice. Moderate strength flavors of fresh red/blue fruits with a surprisinging amount of acidity through the mid palate to spice on the lingering tangy finish. Moderate+ complexity/lingering finish. I will wait another 3-5 years (2022+) to try again. Seems to have a surprising amount of upside. 94.
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My final 2008 OV. Poured blind. Aroma is a little funky. Spicy strawberry, rhubarb with a juicy note. Some of the age is showing on the rim of the wine, as it is starting to brown, as well as a cedar note has worked its way into the finish. The table enjoyed this bottle, and while I did too, I do think it's time to drink, unless you are into old PN, which I am not.
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This was ok, but slightly out of sorts. The initial pop is bright with cola covered fruit. When you dig a little deeper, the wine begins to fall short. There is some noticeable rawness on the mid palate and a weak finish. Good but no more. (87)
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Cloudy red. Tangy cherry and red currant notes. A sweet candied fruit finish. The acidity fades a bit after extended time in the glass. I'd drink these up if you have them.
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Very dark, jammy, rich concentrated blackberrry and black cherry fruit, almost Syrah-like. Not my cup of tea, but delicious fruit nonetheless. the biggest of the 3. (The 3: Eyrie PN '08, Rhys Bearwallow '08, Rivers Marie Old Vines PN '08). EWG 10 years on dinner.
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Ripe red cherry and berry on both nose and palate with baking spice. Good+ volume and length, but slightly sweeter finish than I'd prefer. Almost identical to another bottle from last year.
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Very drinkable as far as integration goes but fading. Not a ton of fruit. Leaning towards an older burgandy style which I am not a fan of while many of you are.
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Rivers Marie pinots tend to be a bit cloudy. That's not something that bothers me. This one was very cloudy and approaching brick orange....quite advanced in appearance, and in taste. I've had other CA pinots that look like this, and taste a bit advanced, while still delicious. This is the longest I've held one of their pinots. The regular Summa of like vintage was much more vibrant about 4 months ago.
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Pure red fruited nose with cinnamon and other baking spices. Nice plushness and bright acidity on the palate. Showing it's maturity as the fruit is soft though this still has plenty of fresh cool fruit, spice and citrus rind. In better shape than a bottle tasted earlier this week. Having said that, I think I'd drink these 08s in the next couple of years as they're starting to lose a bit of their oomph and energy.
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Wonderful sour red cherry, rhubarb, and earth on the open nose and layered palate with floral and orange peel notes on the long finish with refreshing acidity. Classic Summa!
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Rotating Dinner Series: Rivers Marie (The Bristol - Chicago, IL): Served double blind in flight on 08/10 Summa OV and 10 Gioia. Something ain't right here. The nose is high toned, and i suspect it's VA. Palate is less high toned, but still a bit candied and high toned. You get some of that coastal spice, but it's distracted by the weird fruit quality. I'm going to pop one from my cellar soon -- hoping the 08s aren't cracking up, and this was just an off VA-effected bottle.
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The Rotating Dinners, II.3: Rivers Marie 2008-2014 (Chicago, IL): The nose here is quite high-toned and volatile. Some at the table said it was VA, but I felt that there was more alcohol and aldehydes than acidity. In any case, it wasn't the most pleasant. The palate is definitely better than the nose here, but that's a pretty low bar to beat. The fruit is here, and it's a mix of red and black, but it feels tired and doesn't have the generous expansiveness that I found in the 2010. The palate also thins out after the attack. Those of us who owned this wine expressed some worry about it; I'd certainly be interested to know if this note was of a representative bottle or not.
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Amazing. Bright, luscious red fruit, tart, balanced acid, interesting blend of red/blue fruits and spices that culminates with a pure and smooth finish. Kept on improving over the course of an evening. Surprised at how good this was.
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Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Served double blind to the tasting group, with everybody correctly identifying this wine as US Pinot Noir. Rich red cherry and berry throughout with very good concentration and length. Sweet spice throughout as well, but giving a slightly sweet character that I found slightly distracting. I certainly liked the wine, but think others like this wine more.
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Medium bodied Cali PN. Slight bricking of color. Cranberry and bing cherry fruit with some classic RM citrus notes on the finish. A bit simpler than in other years reflective of the vintage. Clearly in the upper echelon of California PN producers/vineyards
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Consumed over 2 days with consistent notes. Crisp red fruits, well balanced, and lush mouthfeel. Great on its own but also stood up to wild king salmon well.
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Big rich red fruits, a touch of spice with the rather characteristic RM vein of orange rind, although the orange was less pronounced than in some bottlings. Made in a crowd pleasing style and no rush to drink soon, I will hold off my last bottle in hopes it gains some additional complexity.
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Tasted immediately after the 2007 Summa and Summa Old Vine. Enjoyable red fruit with robust spice, but there was a slightly stewed or roasted note inconsistent with another bottle from one year ago, so less pleasure. I will have to open one from my cellar in the next few months. I preferred both of the 2007s today, which is surprising given the respective vintages.
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Popped and poured. Medium red ruby color. Still has plenty of life. Elegant and balances, tannin and acids are forward. Red fruit emerges in the glass, with some orange typical of Summa. Very Burgundian. Wish I had more.
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Cloudy. On the nose, stewed red fruit with a citrus note, and hints of clover and dried flowers. Palate has stewed/macerated black cherry and raspberry. Flabby across the palate -- no spine or verve. Just dies on the finish. Pretty disappointing, given the price tag.
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Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and silky tannins. The feel is plump and rich with raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, creamed red fruits, and some whole cluster notes.
Overall: The wine is classic Rivers-Marie. There is a creaminess to it along with tart red fruits.
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Excellent, this is why I love Rivers-Marie pinots. Some are too big and chunky for my tastes, but I have just started with this vintage passing on those vineyards. Been on the list since the beginning. Love Summa, and especially the old vines. Delicious tart red fruits (pomegranate, cranberry, tart cherries), thyme, tarragon, earth, and minerals. Long finish. Beautiful on Fathers Day with wild halibut, roasted potatoes, and asparagus/rhubarb/Vidalia onion salad.
Lioco and Sonoma Coast Tasting (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): This might have been my first time tasting this wine for this vintage and it certainly didn't disappoint. While the "regular" Summa tasted immediately prior was charming, this OV was more fresh, nuanced and powerful. Red berries, anise, fresh thyme. Lots of acidity and a mineral/ saline quality. Long and precise.
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A base of earthy red fruits with curry spice provides some intrigue on the nose and nice breadth on the palate. The tree bark and peat notes that help give the Summa wines a consistent sense of place also provide cover for a woodsmoke element that limits the range of this effort. Not my favorite R-M but it was balanced and deceptively long and went especially well with the ash-rubbed sea trout and the Perigord truffle served by Chez TJ.
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Last of 4 I purchased on my first allocation. Enjoyed on a quiet night at home with the spouse. Tangy red fruit driven (raspberry, cranberry, pomegranate) with an orage citrus undertone mixed in with some softer forrest floor, earthy components. Fruit is not in your face extracted or sweet with everything nicely held together. Very enjoyable.
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I love the wet forest floor, mushroom component of this wine. Red fruits, more cranberry than cherry, great mouth feel with medium acidity. Very "Summa" like.
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One of the best American pinots I have tasted in the past year. No hint of alcohol, fruit very dominant but not overly sweet. Great acidity. Reminds me of a her 1cru Chambolle.
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I think my most enjoyable pinots from R-M are the Sonoma Coast's and then of the single vineyards the Summa and Old Vine Summa's. Red fruits, decent acidity, a bit bigger than I would prefer, but very nice wine.
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this bottle was brought to dinner at selkirk manor by chris. shared with me, pat, dominic and margaret. perhaps this bottle suffered some shock in transit. perhaps it needed to be opened earlier and/or decanted. somehow the wine was not very expressive. i had no indication how important this wine was until researching it afterward. i appreciate the red fruit and substantial body. however, i was not impressed with the other subtle flavor components described by others. nothing to make it memorable or outstanding for me. perhaps it was just too young and needed to be coaxed more.
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Needed time and much better the second day. Had intense red cherry and citrus/orange peel notes but the integration and balance was superb and the finish wasn't long, but the flavors and slight hint of spice lingered. Well made and delicious
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Killing baby Burgundies at the Playground (Playground , Santa Ana, CA): a little bit of fizz on the first taste, but it picked up orange peel, blue fruit and this really dry extract that was almost like under ripe tannin. I enjoyed the fruit but that tannic flavor needs to integrate in with time.
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Sweet Cali Pinot. Was a bit frizante at first, but settled down after 15 minutes. Not my cup of tea, but well made and shows some complexity. I can see how some like this, but not for me and not worth the price tag
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Brought to a restaurant, unfortunately winter weather meant it was too cold to really strut its stuff. As the night went on and this came up to temp it just starting to show its stuff. Shame on me for forcing the issue.
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Best of 4 pintos tasted blind: Rhys alpine '08, Copain Kaiser en Haut '06, and Anthill Abbey Harris '09. Nice bright red color, complex nose with red fruit/cherry, spice, and slight floral anise component. Drinks well upon opening and holds its components overnight. Excellent pinot.
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Cloudy, dark red color. The nose was expressive with pomegranate, cranberry, orange blossom, root beer, and minerals. In the mouth, it seemed a little muted with pomegranate, raspberry, cranberry, peach, orange blossom, sarsaparilla, and minerals. The fruit is deep but not confected. There is plenty of acidity to support the intense fruit. The finish is very long. Overall, the old vine characteristics are apparent (intense fruit and balance), but it did seemed a little closed even with slow ox for 2 hours. I look forward to opening another bottle in 5 years.
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PnP--yes I know this deserves better. Nose of Asian spice, red fruits, lavender, toasty oak, Dr. Pepper--wow. Taste is a tart cran/pomegranate, that orange zest I've come to expect from R.M., plenty of minerals and sneaky smooth tannins. Best glass was the last glass around hour 3. Excellent balance with just the right amount of California sunshine.
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Better than the last bottle but not a world clas wine by any means. I'm done with all of the RM wines. I am uniformly unimpressed with the pinots and cabs. Oh Well.......
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Gave this 90 mins in the decanter before re-bottling & taking out to dinner.
I loved the profile of this wine. Good brown & Asian spices, but not candied cola. Floral & tea on the nose, along with plenty of dark fruits & red fruits. Tasting focuses on those red & dark red fruits (cranberry, black raspberry) that show lots of class. Notes of spice, citrus zest, and a broad-shouldered yet elegant feel add great character. I feared the finish would be tart, given the cranberry & citrus notes, but it's completely smooth. Leads to great length lead by warm baking spices (nutmeg, cinnamon hints).
Paired well with duck & multiple preparations of lamb, then stretched well with cheese & chocolate too. As others have mentioned, there's likely some upside here--will wait a few years 'til the next one.
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P&P, with the dc wine guys at bourbon steak. Sweet nose of lavender, orange rind, and cocoa. Nice weight and soft mouthfeel, but still showing some tannin on the tail end. The orange rind is pronounced on the palate, and the acidity is firm. Needs 5-10 years, although its pretty good now.
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Very aromatic, both nose and palate are heavy in the Orange Peal, Tea and Cherry (sweet and sour). It's very good, well balanced, but is stretching the line on cost for quality IMO. I very much enjoyed it, but I'd rather get 2 Sonoma Coasts for cheaper and only slightly less enjoyable.
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1990s Cali Cabs and a 2008 Rivers-Marie Summa OV (Bourbon Steak DC): SRP: $60 (mailing list only). Decanted for 2-3 hours. The nose is intoxicating and incredibly floral – sweet, purple lavender and fresh, sweet herbs. The fruit is big, ripe, and lush – a mix of red cherry, black cherry, and cranberry -- but somehow elegant and restrained. The orange rind and citrus notes that everyone talks about are there, but I couldn’t find any smoke taint, despite the challenges of the vintage. Great balance, juicy acidity, soft-but-present tannins. This wine will be fantastic in 5-10 years.
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Pop and pour and followed for three hours; re-corked and tasted the following evening. Good Pinot nose - ripe berries and spice along with the forest floor. Light in texture but rich in flavor with a touch of smoke and spice. Nicely balanced.
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I remain mixed on the RM wines, but from my limited experience it seems I'm partial to the Summa bottlings, with the others not quite what I'm looking for. Most of the bottles I've tried have a bit of a sweet fruit rollup quality, whereas the 2007 Summa and now this 2008 Summa OV are more restrained and, while deep and concentrated, avoid the somewhat cloying character of the rest of the lineup. Pop 'n pour and followed over the course of several hours, this possesses a deep-pitched character, and good focus, though I'd like a bit more energy. I can see where people get some citrus from this wine, though I might not have found it without the suggestion; the acid is more than adequate, though not in any way too much. Next day this has come on nicely. An intoxicating aroma with deep fruit, spice, and just a touch of vanilla, while the palate remains focused with deep red fruit.
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14.1% alcohol. This wine remains open and approachable, though it wasn't quite as slutty as last year. Opened two hours before serving but not decanted. A touch of brett shows through on the nose, but it is a faint whiff, which quickly gives way to beautiful black cherry, dark earth, and light orange peel notes. In the mouth, this has settled into a more elegant structure, with red and black cherry unfolding alongside layers of earth and spice. Still retains strong acidity and has a long, supple finish. A-/A
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My first tasting of a Rivers-Marie Pinot. I have to say that although I am not usually much of California Pinot drinker, I was quite impressed. We let it sit in the decanter for about an hour before having a glass and then worked on it for a few hours. Good complexity for a wine of such a young age showing red and blue berry fruit, black cherries, orange peel, cola and baking spices. The fruit was ripe, but not so much that it seemed like it was getting into the territory of being baked or candied. I didn't notice anything that would have been attributable to the smoke taint that affected some others in 2008. Good juicy acidity on the palate with a smooth texture with moderate tannin (but, of course, the tannins were ripe and polished). Good density and concentration with a long finish. Would like to see how this does with some bottle age as the tannins soften.
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2nd bottle this year, this time treated the same as last bottle: open night 1, enjoy over a meal, take leftover home for night 2, enjoing again with a slight chill. I have to say that I like this wine a lot better this time than the last bottle. What appears to me this time is more citrus, more red fruit (cranberry) and less ripe styled. In fact, what this wine seems more like this time is my last experience with the 2008 S Coast, a marriage of ripe and crisp. Aromatics show baking spice and absent this time, the heat. I noted what I though was some of the latter at dinner last night but I don't get it today. Cinnamon, good dose of thicker raspberry married against like an orange rind, cranberry, raspberry finish, even a bit of red apple, pine and mushroom as it closes out. Good zing and weight here, really nice and far better than the bottle six months ago. I'll save my last one for 2013 to let it gather some age and settle in completely. Delicious.
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Top notch Sonoma Count Pinot. Was a little acidic and tight at first, but only needed about 30 minutes of air before it really came around. Fresh, vibrant red fruit, a bit of citrus zing, some baking spices, and good balance. (PE: 92)
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These are always a pleasure, and TRB's purchase of this vineyard is great news with respect to long term availability and volume. This bottling to me is always the essence of Pinot fruit, maybe not the quintessential Pinot wine, but really nice purity of fruit. There is nothing understated or subtle here. This is deep, brooding, ripe strawberries and sous bois. Plenty of acidity props up the dense fruit and lends a long, juicy finish.
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This bottle has been open for almost a day, the last few ounces form this note. As a backdrop, I tasted and chronicled earlier this week the 2008 RM Sonoma Coast bottling, an experience of drinking over 3 days that left a marked impression on me, as that bottle plain kicked ass. So, to taste this wine here, arguably the best in TRB's pinot stable for the vintage, I was eager. So in summation, and I'll be candid, this wine is not thrilling me. To me, it comes off a bit ripe, evident in the aromatic and also the texture. Last night it seemed a little hot, not tonight but the ripeness does express itself IMO. Texturally, smooth and glass-like, with dark raspberry, clove and dark strawberry but seeming to me to lack acidity, the beautiful kind that the 08 SC bottling had for sure. What I find here is a pinot that leans towards bigger bones, larger texture and missing some cut. I have to say, at this stage, the 08 SC beats this wine handly. Will aging affect this comparison...perhaps but in the end, I'm not sure how ripe texture and presence will soften out when the acidity is not in the backdrop. I have 2 bottles of this wine in my own cellar, I'll touch the next one in 2012.
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This wine was the second wine of the night. It followed the Josepgh Roty Charmes Chambertin. Not an easy slot in the drinking mix. I liked this wine much more than the rest of the crowd. It was a bright light red color that oozed freshness. Nose was all cherry with a touch of blueberry behind it. The rap from the group was that it lacked a finish. I would descirbe it as a thin. Very pure fruit with a a violet/spring flower bouquet. Extremely well balanced. May not be a long term ager but awfully good right now.
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In anticipation of the new release due to arrive on Tuesday, I wanted to pop a bottle of Summa Old Vines. While I've had plenty of RM pinots, this is the one vineyard source I've had yet to experience. And what an experience it was! I paired this with sauteed salmon and leeks in beurre blanc from Bouchon - which was equally sublime.
Saturated nose of red fruits (cranberry and cherry), orange rind, brown sugar, forrest floor. Med body with prominent acid spine. Excellent intensity on the palate with oodles of red fruits with minerals and an earthy element which came more towards the fore with food. Long and satisfying finish. This wine just had so much going on, it was difficult to really capture all it had to offer at one time.
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Decanted an hour. Oh my goodness, this is the best wine I've had in quite a few months. Nose has so much going on: bing cherry, caramelized sugar, orange zest, cinnamon and cream. Taste is tart cherry, cranberry more orange zest, minerals and the tannins envelop your mouth carrying through a finish with some nice lift. Wow, just wow.
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14.1% ABV. PNP, brief notes from memory. Translucent ruby garnet in the glass. Fairly classic Pinot nose of black cherry tinged with a nuance of funk and dry brush. Medium full bodied with slightly earthy but sweet black cherry fruit. Nice rich taste with some tangy metallic elements arising mid palate but not in a negative way. Nice. More structured and earthy than the other R-M 2008 Pinots i've tasted which seemed more about ripe black cherry fruit. 92+
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Solid Pinot. Little tasting notes. Spicey qualities with some nice earth and huge fruit. Without a doubt this was Sonoma Pinot. Great bottling with super potential to age effortlessly a la Grand Cru Burgs.
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– popped and poured – – tasted non-blind over 20 minutes after bottle had been open for an hour or two –
NOSE: open and expressive Nose showed lots of cherry, underbrush, and blueberry.
TASTE: medium-light bodied; open-knit, and lacking in structure; red berry flavors with oak flashing behind; a bit tart/sour; came across as alcoholic to me – was surprised to see 14.1% on the label; not tannic.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. Pretty aromas of rose petals, fresh raspberries, cranberry sauce (with clove and cinnamon stick), orange rind, and wet stones. Sweet liquor on the attack with a rich red berry middle accented by candied orange peel and a bright mineral- and spice-laden finish. Fabulous now but should be better with time.
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2010 Simple Wine Dinner Series No.8 - US Theme (Sage @ Mohamed Sultan Rd): Alcohol : 14.1% The 1st wine of the Pinot Flight and this was surprisingly ready to drink. The nose is not so expressive, in fact quite shallow but clearly a new world Pinot that display ripe, candied cherry with sharp mineral core that is metallic with iron notes. A well made, refine Pinot that the round palate is rich, ripe and it did gain more power and mid palate weight palate, however the attack is quite surface and did not gain much on depth and complexity. Maybe this is still young as the good mid palate can't carry through to the somewhat disjointed finish, with trace of heat. This fleshy Pinot has everything is in place and the sheer balance, velvety mouth feel resulted in a more forward, early drinking style. Drinking well now. Buy - No.
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Shows more structure and potential for aging than the Sonoma Coast bottling, but a similar style - sweet fruit, noticeable oak that lends caramel flavors to the profile. The difference in my enjoyment level between the two bottlings at this early stage was perhaps not as much as I would have expected, but it will be interesting to see if that changes a few years down the line.
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This is what it is, which is very well-executed, super-ripe Cali Pinot. Unlike some wines of this style, it is not so ripe as to be sliding over the edge to rotten bitterness, or so overoaked as to be unrecognizable as pinot. So bravo for that. But at the end of the day this is just another super-ripe fruit pinot from California, which is not a style I love - when the fruit gets that ripe, it loses any sense of soil and starts to taste like $20 Aussie shiraz. All a matter of taste, I guess.
Ripe red cherries, wild strawberry, spring flowers, cinnamon and herb on the nose; perfumed. This is plush with red cherry and berry fruit, layered and with some mid-palate sappiness, but also has lithe acidity that makes it refreshing, even light. A lighter effort than other old vines summas I've had, but understated and pretty.
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This seemed much more open for business than previous vintages at this stage. I didn't think the concentration was on par with others as well but there is plenty of fruit here. Pretty good acidity but a bit lacking in the mid palate though I wouldn't call it out of balance. Definitely not as big and forward as the Occidental. This already seems to have some integrated complexity but could get better in a few years. Drink or hold.
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Insta bretty, bitter band-aids and green medicinal nose. Palate is tainted, but it's a shame but you can tell the fruit would be dense and pure otherwise. Never blew off.
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I just can't agree with anyone else about this wine. The wine was opened and allowed to sit for over 3 hours before being recorked and taken to the restaurant where it was popped and poured. Although it got much better with time in the glass, it was still a simple glass of strawberry-cherry juice. No complexity or nuances, no mineral notes, nothing like the wines from this winemaker that I'm used to. I am completely dissapointed. It could just be too young, so I will wait for at least a year before going anywhere near another 2008 R-M Pinot of any kind.
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It was hard to stay away from this one. A pinot that would probably have something for everyone. Very pure with lots of fruit and no cloying sweetness. The fruit has a tartness that keeps it fresh. This would be hard for me to let age.
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14.1% alcohol. This is an absolutely magnificent Pinot. Wine of the night here. Opened two hours before serving but not decanted. Red cherry color. Gorgeous nose of black cherry, red cherry, spice, earth, and a faint hint of orange peel. In the mouth, great intensity without feeling heavy in the least. The fruit explodes on the palate, quickly followed up by layers of complexity. Bright acidity and a magnificent finish. It's really hard to believe it is drinking this well at such a young age. A
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I always struggle writing tasting notes for wines that I really enjoy. I'm pretty terrible with words. But this one deserves the effort... This 2008 Summa Old Vines wears no make-up because there are no flaws or blemishes to cover up. The subtle wisp of her perfume stimulates the senses. There's a quieter confidence in her voice as she sings her haunting song. She is perfect in form, effortlessly impressive, and immensely pleasing. And she is beautiful...naturally.
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Tasted at the winery. Quick notes: cherry with some cinnamon on the nose. On the palate: darker cherry with spice and earth. There was also a harder edge to this wine. Thomas mentioned that the Summa wines need more time to fill out than the other bottlings.
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12/8/2023 - Bathtub58 Does not like this wine: 87 Points
This was past its prime, dull in color, and a Durand was needed to extract the cork. This was bought in 2020, from a reputable Napa seller that guarantees provenance. I think this bottle saw bad storage at some point. Drinkable aged red fruits, secondary flavors, not vibrant, but not enjoyable.
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12/17/2022 - tomlee wrote: 96 Points
Ruby red in color. 14.1% ABV. Beautiful nose of red fruits, citrus and forest floor. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Light and ethereal. Finesse and grace in spades. Strawberry, cranberry, earth and minerals on the palate. The finish on the wine is breathtaking. Stunning Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that has aged brilliantly. Best over the next several years.
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6/28/2022 - fisk15 wrote: 90 Points
This bottle was perhaps a bit tired, holding out more hope for my remaining one. Took awhile to sort itself after opening, and then presented more herbal and spicy than fruited. A bit spritzy on the tongue at first.
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12/4/2021 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious sour red cherry, rhubarb, and earth on the nose and rich palate with orange peel notes on the long finish. Aging gracefully!
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10/25/2020 - CMN wrote: 88 Points
Ripe dark red fruits and orange rind. Big and rich but with enough acidity to keep things from getting unruly. Fruit forward and crowd-pleasing style, yet lacks finesse. Lightly spritzy. This wine screams Sonoma Coast. While enjoyable enough, QPR is lacking. Does not drink the way I want a Pinot to drink. I don’t see this improving with more age, though it’s certainly going to be fine to hold for a handful more years.
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4/1/2020 - theharve wrote: 92 Points
not at peak but not as primary as 2010 sonoma coast. these wines, as well as the rhys pinots need lots of age but i hope not like the pride cabs (20 yrs and still not at peak)
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11/26/2019 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar tasting notes to previous bottle but losing some of its vibrancy.
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9/20/2019 - jfkwines wrote: 91 Points
Tasted with 06 Carlisle Bennet Syrah and Lillian 06 Syrah. Opened for breathing with a bit poured off for about an hour. The Pinot Noir character was immediately recognized at the table by casual drinkers. Aging well but definitely aging. Enjoy now unless your preference is for aged RM style
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8/24/2019 - Bathtub58 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Day 1: popped and poured. Consumed 1/2 bottle over two hours. Nose of sappy red and blue fruits. Flavors of ripe red and blue fruits with a sense of sweetness. Moderate complexity/finish. Far too sappy and ripe for my preference. But, seemed like there was some upside so I held back 1/2 bottle. 91.
Day 2: Surprisingly fresh nose (moderate strength) of red/blue fruits with spice. Moderate strength flavors of fresh red/blue fruits with a surprisinging amount of acidity through the mid palate to spice on the lingering tangy finish. Moderate+ complexity/lingering finish. I will wait another 3-5 years (2022+) to try again. Seems to have a surprising amount of upside. 94.
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8/20/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
My final 2008 OV. Poured blind. Aroma is a little funky. Spicy strawberry, rhubarb with a juicy note. Some of the age is showing on the rim of the wine, as it is starting to brown, as well as a cedar note has worked its way into the finish. The table enjoyed this bottle, and while I did too, I do think it's time to drink, unless you are into old PN, which I am not.
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4/24/2019 - dbkitc wrote: 87 Points
This was ok, but slightly out of sorts. The initial pop is bright with cola covered fruit. When you dig a little deeper, the wine begins to fall short. There is some noticeable rawness on the mid palate and a weak finish. Good but no more. (87)
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12/6/2018 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Cloudy red. Tangy cherry and red currant notes. A sweet candied fruit finish. The acidity fades a bit after extended time in the glass. I'd drink these up if you have them.
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12/2/2018 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Very dark, jammy, rich concentrated blackberrry and black cherry fruit, almost Syrah-like. Not my cup of tea, but delicious fruit nonetheless. the biggest of the 3. (The 3: Eyrie PN '08, Rhys Bearwallow '08, Rivers Marie Old Vines PN '08). EWG 10 years on dinner.
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10/28/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Ripe red cherry and berry on both nose and palate with baking spice. Good+ volume and length, but slightly sweeter finish than I'd prefer. Almost identical to another bottle from last year.
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9/8/2018 - jfkwines wrote: 88 Points
Very drinkable as far as integration goes but fading. Not a ton of fruit. Leaning towards an older burgandy style which I am not a fan of while many of you are.
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8/20/2018 - thalver wrote:
Rivers Marie pinots tend to be a bit cloudy. That's not something that bothers me. This one was very cloudy and approaching brick orange....quite advanced in appearance, and in taste. I've had other CA pinots that look like this, and taste a bit advanced, while still delicious. This is the longest I've held one of their pinots. The regular Summa of like vintage was much more vibrant about 4 months ago.
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7/18/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice red fruited, fully mature with earthiness and soft finish. Showing well but I would drink these pretty soon.
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3/18/2018 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
Pure red fruited nose with cinnamon and other baking spices. Nice plushness and bright acidity on the palate. Showing it's maturity as the fruit is soft though this still has plenty of fresh cool fruit, spice and citrus rind. In better shape than a bottle tasted earlier this week. Having said that, I think I'd drink these 08s in the next couple of years as they're starting to lose a bit of their oomph and energy.
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3/16/2018 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful sour red cherry, rhubarb, and earth on the open nose and layered palate with floral and orange peel notes on the long finish with refreshing acidity. Classic Summa!
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3/13/2018 - Nanda wrote:
Rotating Dinner Series: Rivers Marie (The Bristol - Chicago, IL): Served double blind in flight on 08/10 Summa OV and 10 Gioia. Something ain't right here. The nose is high toned, and i suspect it's VA. Palate is less high toned, but still a bit candied and high toned. You get some of that coastal spice, but it's distracted by the weird fruit quality. I'm going to pop one from my cellar soon -- hoping the 08s aren't cracking up, and this was just an off VA-effected bottle.
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3/13/2018 - acyso wrote: 85 Points
The Rotating Dinners, II.3: Rivers Marie 2008-2014 (Chicago, IL): The nose here is quite high-toned and volatile. Some at the table said it was VA, but I felt that there was more alcohol and aldehydes than acidity. In any case, it wasn't the most pleasant. The palate is definitely better than the nose here, but that's a pretty low bar to beat. The fruit is here, and it's a mix of red and black, but it feels tired and doesn't have the generous expansiveness that I found in the 2010. The palate also thins out after the attack. Those of us who owned this wine expressed some worry about it; I'd certainly be interested to know if this note was of a representative bottle or not.
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1/29/2018 - Bathtub58 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tannins are very fine and barely noticeable. Deep fruit. Decant helps. Fantastic.
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11/6/2017 - VinoDiver Likes this wine: 95 Points
deep red fruit wine. Love the texture and nose on this wine. Should continue to age well
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10/22/2017 - andolini wrote: 95 Points
Amazing. Bright, luscious red fruit, tart, balanced acid, interesting blend of red/blue fruits and spices that culminates with a pure and smooth finish. Kept on improving over the course of an evening. Surprised at how good this was.
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6/3/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Served double blind to the tasting group, with everybody correctly identifying this wine as US Pinot Noir. Rich red cherry and berry throughout with very good concentration and length. Sweet spice throughout as well, but giving a slightly sweet character that I found slightly distracting. I certainly liked the wine, but think others like this wine more.
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5/13/2017 - Deadhead wrote: 93 Points
Fantastically delicious!
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12/3/2016 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Medium bodied Cali PN. Slight bricking of color. Cranberry and bing cherry fruit with some classic RM citrus notes on the finish. A bit simpler than in other years reflective of the vintage. Clearly in the upper echelon of California PN producers/vineyards
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10/4/2016 - VinoDiver Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consumed over 2 days with consistent notes. Crisp red fruits, well balanced, and lush mouthfeel. Great on its own but also stood up to wild king salmon well.
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8/1/2016 - CMN wrote:
Big rich red fruits, a touch of spice with the rather characteristic RM vein of orange rind, although the orange was less pronounced than in some bottlings. Made in a crowd pleasing style and no rush to drink soon, I will hold off my last bottle in hopes it gains some additional complexity.
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7/31/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Tasted immediately after the 2007 Summa and Summa Old Vine. Enjoyable red fruit with robust spice, but there was a slightly stewed or roasted note inconsistent with another bottle from one year ago, so less pleasure. I will have to open one from my cellar in the next few months. I preferred both of the 2007s today, which is surprising given the respective vintages.
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4/3/2016 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
Delightful
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3/28/2016 - toddjerry Likes this wine: 95 Points
Popped and poured. Medium red ruby color. Still has plenty of life. Elegant and balances, tannin and acids are forward. Red fruit emerges in the glass, with some orange typical of Summa. Very Burgundian. Wish I had more.
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1/6/2016 - JOJ wrote: 88 Points
Cloudy. On the nose, stewed red fruit with a citrus note, and hints of clover and dried flowers. Palate has stewed/macerated black cherry and raspberry. Flabby across the palate -- no spine or verve. Just dies on the finish. Pretty disappointing, given the price tag.
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10/31/2015 - Deadhead wrote: 93 Points
Bright red fruits kept in check by wonderful earthiness. Drinking well right now.
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10/9/2015 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
Friday night Cali Pinots (Phil's place, Chicago IL): Nose: There is a tartness to the nose with raspberries, dark red cherries, creamed red fruits, herbs, some whole cluster, and pomegranate.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and silky tannins. The feel is plump and rich with raspberries, cranberries, pomegranate, creamed red fruits, and some whole cluster notes.
Overall: The wine is classic Rivers-Marie. There is a creaminess to it along with tart red fruits.
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7/11/2015 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
Another delicious bottle
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6/21/2015 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
Excellent, this is why I love Rivers-Marie pinots. Some are too big and chunky for my tastes, but I have just started with this vintage passing on those vineyards. Been on the list since the beginning. Love Summa, and especially the old vines. Delicious tart red fruits (pomegranate, cranberry, tart cherries), thyme, tarragon, earth, and minerals. Long finish. Beautiful on Fathers Day with wild halibut, roasted potatoes, and asparagus/rhubarb/Vidalia onion salad.
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5/25/2015 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
Another superb bottle. This is in a great spot right now.
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3/20/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Lioco and Sonoma Coast Tasting (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): This might have been my first time tasting this wine for this vintage and it certainly didn't disappoint. While the "regular" Summa tasted immediately prior was charming, this OV was more fresh, nuanced and powerful. Red berries, anise, fresh thyme. Lots of acidity and a mineral/ saline quality. Long and precise.
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3/7/2015 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
I enjoyed this more than the last time. Wonderful red and blue fruit, earth and a vanilla note. Rich round and creamy. Very vibrant finish.
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2/8/2015 - silton Likes this wine: 91 Points
A base of earthy red fruits with curry spice provides some intrigue on the nose and nice breadth on the palate. The tree bark and peat notes that help give the Summa wines a consistent sense of place also provide cover for a woodsmoke element that limits the range of this effort. Not my favorite R-M but it was balanced and deceptively long and went especially well with the ash-rubbed sea trout and the Perigord truffle served by Chez TJ.
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12/13/2014 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Last of 4 I purchased on my first allocation. Enjoyed on a quiet night at home with the spouse. Tangy red fruit driven (raspberry, cranberry, pomegranate) with an orage citrus undertone mixed in with some softer forrest floor, earthy components. Fruit is not in your face extracted or sweet with everything nicely held together. Very enjoyable.
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10/4/2014 - johnh1001 wrote: 92 Points
Very forward and perfumed on the nose. Almost effervescent on the palate. Black cherry. Nice chocolate note. 92
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9/22/2014 - Dale B. wrote: 93 Points
I love the wet forest floor, mushroom component of this wine. Red fruits, more cranberry than cherry, great mouth feel with medium acidity. Very "Summa" like.
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6/29/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wife gave me a wine from the cellar blind and I was able to identify this exactly, year, producer and wine. So I guess it's pretty identifiable...
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6/26/2014 - Edclr Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the best American pinots I have tasted in the past year. No hint of alcohol, fruit very dominant but not overly sweet. Great acidity. Reminds me of a her 1cru Chambolle.
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6/9/2014 - rralls wrote: 90 Points
Coravin'd two glasses over a week.
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5/12/2014 - nfafoglia wrote: 89 Points
Sweet red fruit hits the palate with a tinge of spice on the finish, primarily black pepper. Nose of strawberry jam, earth and dill.
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4/30/2014 - Lessthanzero wrote: 89 Points
Starting to fall apart. Some oxidation and spritziness on palate. Got better after an hour of open time, but nowhere near as good as the last one.
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4/9/2014 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
I think my most enjoyable pinots from R-M are the Sonoma Coast's and then of the single vineyards the Summa and Old Vine Summa's. Red fruits, decent acidity, a bit bigger than I would prefer, but very nice wine.
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12/28/2013 - bacchus wrote: 89 Points
this bottle was brought to dinner at selkirk manor by chris. shared with me, pat, dominic and margaret. perhaps this bottle suffered some shock in transit. perhaps it needed to be opened earlier and/or decanted. somehow the wine was not very expressive. i had no indication how important this wine was until researching it afterward. i appreciate the red fruit and substantial body. however, i was not impressed with the other subtle flavor components described by others. nothing to make it memorable or outstanding for me. perhaps it was just too young and needed to be coaxed more.
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7/7/2013 - Acohen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needed time and much better the second day. Had intense red cherry and citrus/orange peel notes but the integration and balance was superb and the finish wasn't long, but the flavors and slight hint of spice lingered. Well made and delicious
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4/26/2013 - clayfu wrote:
Killing baby Burgundies at the Playground (Playground , Santa Ana, CA): a little bit of fizz on the first taste, but it picked up orange peel, blue fruit and this really dry extract that was almost like under ripe tannin. I enjoyed the fruit but that tannic flavor needs to integrate in with time.
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4/13/2013 - Acohen wrote: 92 Points
Interesting nose with almost mushroom, earth and spice. Had good deeper color and dark cherry flavor with nice spice, complexity and good finish
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4/5/2013 - BuffaloBill25 wrote: 90 Points
Sweet Cali Pinot. Was a bit frizante at first, but settled down after 15 minutes. Not my cup of tea, but well made and shows some complexity. I can see how some like this, but not for me and not worth the price tag
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1/19/2013 - Bellissimo wrote:
Brought to a restaurant, unfortunately winter weather meant it was too cold to really strut its stuff. As the night went on and this came up to temp it just starting to show its stuff. Shame on me for forcing the issue.
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11/23/2012 - vinocerus wrote:
Best of 4 pintos tasted blind: Rhys alpine '08, Copain Kaiser en Haut '06, and Anthill Abbey Harris '09. Nice bright red color, complex nose with red fruit/cherry, spice, and slight floral anise component. Drinks well upon opening and holds its components overnight. Excellent pinot.
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11/9/2012 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
Offline with Hawaii Wine-O's; 11/9/2012-11/10/2012 (Haggis Home- Honolulu): Opened at the Hawaii offline by Haggis. Very fruity. Sweet cherry notes. Bright acidity. Not as good as the 2008 Sonoma Coast from this producer that I had the night before. 90-91 points.
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9/26/2012 - etherscreen wrote:
probably worth holding for a while yet.
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9/1/2012 - Meerlust wrote: 90 Points
Cloudy, dark red color. The nose was expressive with pomegranate, cranberry, orange blossom, root beer, and minerals. In the mouth, it seemed a little muted with pomegranate, raspberry, cranberry, peach, orange blossom, sarsaparilla, and minerals. The fruit is deep but not confected. There is plenty of acidity to support the intense fruit. The finish is very long. Overall, the old vine characteristics are apparent (intense fruit and balance), but it did seemed a little closed even with slow ox for 2 hours. I look forward to opening another bottle in 5 years.
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7/4/2012 - Rayburn wrote: 92 Points
Nom, nom, nom. Cola, red fruit framed by soft round tannin..love it
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3/21/2012 - Bellissimo wrote:
PnP--yes I know this deserves better. Nose of Asian spice, red fruits, lavender, toasty oak, Dr. Pepper--wow. Taste is a tart cran/pomegranate, that orange zest I've come to expect from R.M., plenty of minerals and sneaky smooth tannins. Best glass was the last glass around hour 3. Excellent balance with just the right amount of California sunshine.
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3/17/2012 - drycab wrote:
Better than the last bottle but not a world clas wine by any means. I'm done with all of the RM wines. I am uniformly unimpressed with the pinots and cabs. Oh Well.......
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2/23/2012 - cobbpa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gave this 90 mins in the decanter before re-bottling & taking out to dinner.
I loved the profile of this wine. Good brown & Asian spices, but not candied cola. Floral & tea on the nose, along with plenty of dark fruits & red fruits. Tasting focuses on those red & dark red fruits (cranberry, black raspberry) that show lots of class. Notes of spice, citrus zest, and a broad-shouldered yet elegant feel add great character. I feared the finish would be tart, given the cranberry & citrus notes, but it's completely smooth. Leads to great length lead by warm baking spices (nutmeg, cinnamon hints).
Paired well with duck & multiple preparations of lamb, then stretched well with cheese & chocolate too. As others have mentioned, there's likely some upside here--will wait a few years 'til the next one.
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1/21/2012 - WetRock wrote:
Rivers Marie Summa Old Vines Vertical (Elks Tower Penthouse, Sacramento, CA): Reserved yet pretty fruit with a bit of heat. Rich cran-apple fruit with skin tones. Tart with tannin though chunky and a bit clipped. Doesn't show the class of the rest of the lineup.
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1/19/2012 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 92 Points
P&P, with the dc wine guys at bourbon steak. Sweet nose of lavender, orange rind, and cocoa. Nice weight and soft mouthfeel, but still showing some tannin on the tail end. The orange rind is pronounced on the palate, and the acidity is firm. Needs 5-10 years, although its pretty good now.
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1/17/2012 - pakabear wrote: 93 Points
Very aromatic, both nose and palate are heavy in the Orange Peal, Tea and Cherry (sweet and sour). It's very good, well balanced, but is stretching the line on cost for quality IMO. I very much enjoyed it, but I'd rather get 2 Sonoma Coasts for cheaper and only slightly less enjoyable.
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1/16/2012 - davidwhitedc wrote: 93 Points
1990s Cali Cabs and a 2008 Rivers-Marie Summa OV (Bourbon Steak DC): SRP: $60 (mailing list only). Decanted for 2-3 hours. The nose is intoxicating and incredibly floral – sweet, purple lavender and fresh, sweet herbs. The fruit is big, ripe, and lush – a mix of red cherry, black cherry, and cranberry -- but somehow elegant and restrained. The orange rind and citrus notes that everyone talks about are there, but I couldn’t find any smoke taint, despite the challenges of the vintage. Great balance, juicy acidity, soft-but-present tannins. This wine will be fantastic in 5-10 years.
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11/18/2011 - t_moderne wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour and followed for three hours; re-corked and tasted the following evening. Good Pinot nose - ripe berries and spice along with the forest floor. Light in texture but rich in flavor with a touch of smoke and spice. Nicely balanced.
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11/1/2011 - Lessthanzero wrote: 92 Points
Finally I found an RM I can dig. Beat out its old world cousin for this dinner, which was a relief.
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10/28/2011 - xwine wrote:
I remain mixed on the RM wines, but from my limited experience it seems I'm partial to the Summa bottlings, with the others not quite what I'm looking for. Most of the bottles I've tried have a bit of a sweet fruit rollup quality, whereas the 2007 Summa and now this 2008 Summa OV are more restrained and, while deep and concentrated, avoid the somewhat cloying character of the rest of the lineup. Pop 'n pour and followed over the course of several hours, this possesses a deep-pitched character, and good focus, though I'd like a bit more energy. I can see where people get some citrus from this wine, though I might not have found it without the suggestion; the acid is more than adequate, though not in any way too much. Next day this has come on nicely. An intoxicating aroma with deep fruit, spice, and just a touch of vanilla, while the palate remains focused with deep red fruit.
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9/28/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
14.1% alcohol. This wine remains open and approachable, though it wasn't quite as slutty as last year. Opened two hours before serving but not decanted. A touch of brett shows through on the nose, but it is a faint whiff, which quickly gives way to beautiful black cherry, dark earth, and light orange peel notes. In the mouth, this has settled into a more elegant structure, with red and black cherry unfolding alongside layers of earth and spice. Still retains strong acidity and has a long, supple finish. A-/A
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9/4/2011 - wickedwax wrote:
My first tasting of a Rivers-Marie Pinot. I have to say that although I am not usually much of California Pinot drinker, I was quite impressed. We let it sit in the decanter for about an hour before having a glass and then worked on it for a few hours. Good complexity for a wine of such a young age showing red and blue berry fruit, black cherries, orange peel, cola and baking spices. The fruit was ripe, but not so much that it seemed like it was getting into the territory of being baked or candied. I didn't notice anything that would have been attributable to the smoke taint that affected some others in 2008. Good juicy acidity on the palate with a smooth texture with moderate tannin (but, of course, the tannins were ripe and polished). Good density and concentration with a long finish. Would like to see how this does with some bottle age as the tannins soften.
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8/14/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
2nd bottle this year, this time treated the same as last bottle: open night 1, enjoy over a meal, take leftover home for night 2, enjoing again with a slight chill. I have to say that I like this wine a lot better this time than the last bottle. What appears to me this time is more citrus, more red fruit (cranberry) and less ripe styled. In fact, what this wine seems more like this time is my last experience with the 2008 S Coast, a marriage of ripe and crisp. Aromatics show baking spice and absent this time, the heat. I noted what I though was some of the latter at dinner last night but I don't get it today. Cinnamon, good dose of thicker raspberry married against like an orange rind, cranberry, raspberry finish, even a bit of red apple, pine and mushroom as it closes out. Good zing and weight here, really nice and far better than the bottle six months ago. I'll save my last one for 2013 to let it gather some age and settle in completely. Delicious.
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6/18/2011 - MarkC Likes this wine: 92 Points
Top notch Sonoma Count Pinot. Was a little acidic and tight at first, but only needed about 30 minutes of air before it really came around. Fresh, vibrant red fruit, a bit of citrus zing, some baking spices, and good balance. (PE: 92)
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4/20/2011 - Jody Smith wrote:
These are always a pleasure, and TRB's purchase of this vineyard is great news with respect to long term availability and volume. This bottling to me is always the essence of Pinot fruit, maybe not the quintessential Pinot wine, but really nice purity of fruit. There is nothing understated or subtle here. This is deep, brooding, ripe strawberries and sous bois. Plenty of acidity props up the dense fruit and lends a long, juicy finish.
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3/4/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
This bottle has been open for almost a day, the last few ounces form this note. As a backdrop, I tasted and chronicled earlier this week the 2008 RM Sonoma Coast bottling, an experience of drinking over 3 days that left a marked impression on me, as that bottle plain kicked ass. So, to taste this wine here, arguably the best in TRB's pinot stable for the vintage, I was eager. So in summation, and I'll be candid, this wine is not thrilling me. To me, it comes off a bit ripe, evident in the aromatic and also the texture. Last night it seemed a little hot, not tonight but the ripeness does express itself IMO. Texturally, smooth and glass-like, with dark raspberry, clove and dark strawberry but seeming to me to lack acidity, the beautiful kind that the 08 SC bottling had for sure. What I find here is a pinot that leans towards bigger bones, larger texture and missing some cut. I have to say, at this stage, the 08 SC beats this wine handly. Will aging affect this comparison...perhaps but in the end, I'm not sure how ripe texture and presence will soften out when the acidity is not in the backdrop. I have 2 bottles of this wine in my own cellar, I'll touch the next one in 2012.
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1/30/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 92 Points
This wine was the second wine of the night. It followed the Josepgh Roty Charmes Chambertin. Not an easy slot in the drinking mix. I liked this wine much more than the rest of the crowd. It was a bright light red color that oozed freshness. Nose was all cherry with a touch of blueberry behind it. The rap from the group was that it lacked a finish. I would descirbe it as a thin. Very pure fruit with a a violet/spring flower bouquet. Extremely well balanced. May not be a long term ager but awfully good right now.
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1/16/2011 - etherscreen wrote:
In anticipation of the new release due to arrive on Tuesday, I wanted to pop a bottle of Summa Old Vines. While I've had plenty of RM pinots, this is the one vineyard source I've had yet to experience. And what an experience it was! I paired this with sauteed salmon and leeks in beurre blanc from Bouchon - which was equally sublime.
Saturated nose of red fruits (cranberry and cherry), orange rind, brown sugar, forrest floor. Med body with prominent acid spine. Excellent intensity on the palate with oodles of red fruits with minerals and an earthy element which came more towards the fore with food. Long and satisfying finish. This wine just had so much going on, it was difficult to really capture all it had to offer at one time.
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1/8/2011 - Bellissimo wrote:
Decanted an hour. Oh my goodness, this is the best wine I've had in quite a few months. Nose has so much going on: bing cherry, caramelized sugar, orange zest, cinnamon and cream. Taste is tart cherry, cranberry more orange zest, minerals and the tannins envelop your mouth carrying through a finish with some nice lift. Wow, just wow.
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12/26/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 92 Points
14.1% ABV. PNP, brief notes from memory. Translucent ruby garnet in the glass. Fairly classic Pinot nose of black cherry tinged with a nuance of funk and dry brush. Medium full bodied with slightly earthy but sweet black cherry fruit. Nice rich taste with some tangy metallic elements arising mid palate but not in a negative way. Nice. More structured and earthy than the other R-M 2008 Pinots i've tasted which seemed more about ripe black cherry fruit. 92+
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12/24/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Solid Pinot. Little tasting notes.
Spicey qualities with some nice earth and huge fruit. Without a doubt this was Sonoma Pinot.
Great bottling with super potential to age effortlessly a la Grand Cru Burgs.
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12/1/2010 - grafstrb wrote:
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 20 minutes after bottle had been open for an hour or two –
NOSE: open and expressive Nose showed lots of cherry, underbrush, and blueberry.
TASTE: medium-light bodied; open-knit, and lacking in structure; red berry flavors with oak flashing behind; a bit tart/sour; came across as alcoholic to me – was surprised to see 14.1% on the label; not tannic.
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11/12/2010 - Paul Lin wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Pretty aromas of rose petals, fresh raspberries, cranberry sauce (with clove and cinnamon stick), orange rind, and wet stones. Sweet liquor on the attack with a rich red berry middle accented by candied orange peel and a bright mineral- and spice-laden finish. Fabulous now but should be better with time.
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10/20/2010 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
2010 Simple Wine Dinner Series No.8 - US Theme (Sage @ Mohamed Sultan Rd): Alcohol : 14.1%
The 1st wine of the Pinot Flight and this was surprisingly ready to drink. The nose is not so expressive, in fact quite shallow but clearly a new world Pinot that display ripe, candied cherry with sharp mineral core that is metallic with iron notes. A well made, refine Pinot that the round palate is rich, ripe and it did gain more power and mid palate weight palate, however the attack is quite surface and did not gain much on depth and complexity. Maybe this is still young as the good mid palate can't carry through to the somewhat disjointed finish, with trace of heat. This fleshy Pinot has everything is in place and the sheer balance, velvety mouth feel resulted in a more forward, early drinking style. Drinking well now. Buy - No.
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9/20/2010 - amateurwino wrote: 93 Points
Shows more structure and potential for aging than the Sonoma Coast bottling, but a similar style - sweet fruit, noticeable oak that lends caramel flavors to the profile. The difference in my enjoyment level between the two bottlings at this early stage was perhaps not as much as I would have expected, but it will be interesting to see if that changes a few years down the line.
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8/28/2010 - bonedocnine wrote: 94 Points
These guys total rock. Buy this stuff
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8/24/2010 - kanab ram wrote:
Not as ripe to my palate as others have noted, but was nonetheless sweet, well rounded, and full bodied with great texture. This lived up to its hype.
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6/25/2010 - herberto wrote: 92 Points
This is what it is, which is very well-executed, super-ripe Cali Pinot. Unlike some wines of this style, it is not so ripe as to be sliding over the edge to rotten bitterness, or so overoaked as to be unrecognizable as pinot. So bravo for that. But at the end of the day this is just another super-ripe fruit pinot from California, which is not a style I love - when the fruit gets that ripe, it loses any sense of soil and starts to taste like $20 Aussie shiraz. All a matter of taste, I guess.
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6/11/2010 - FieldingYost wrote: 92 Points
Ripe red cherries, wild strawberry, spring flowers, cinnamon and herb on the nose; perfumed. This is plush with red cherry and berry fruit, layered and with some mid-palate sappiness, but also has lithe acidity that makes it refreshing, even light. A lighter effort than other old vines summas I've had, but understated and pretty.
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6/7/2010 - gogogo wrote: 97 Points
Simply the best Pinot year in year out coming out of California. No notes taken tonight.
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5/29/2010 - WetRock wrote:
This seemed much more open for business than previous vintages at this stage. I didn't think the concentration was on par with others as well but there is plenty of fruit here. Pretty good acidity but a bit lacking in the mid palate though I wouldn't call it out of balance. Definitely not as big and forward as the Occidental. This already seems to have some integrated complexity but could get better in a few years. Drink or hold.
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5/29/2010 - joshbryer wrote: flawed
2nd bad bottle tonight.....Hyper bretty. Really tainted.
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5/29/2010 - joshbryer wrote: flawed
Insta bretty, bitter band-aids and green medicinal nose. Palate is tainted, but it's a shame but you can tell the fruit would be dense and pure otherwise. Never blew off.
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5/15/2010 - drycab wrote:
I just can't agree with anyone else about this wine. The wine was opened and allowed to sit for over 3 hours before being recorked and taken to the restaurant where it was popped and poured. Although it got much better with time in the glass, it was still a simple glass of strawberry-cherry juice. No complexity or nuances, no mineral notes, nothing like the wines from this winemaker that I'm used to. I am completely dissapointed. It could just be too young, so I will wait for at least a year before going anywhere near another 2008 R-M Pinot of any kind.
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4/26/2010 - jasonh wrote: 93 Points
It was hard to stay away from this one. A pinot that would probably have something for everyone. Very pure with lots of fruit and no cloying sweetness. The fruit has a tartness that keeps it fresh. This would be hard for me to let age.
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4/26/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.1% alcohol. This is an absolutely magnificent Pinot. Wine of the night here. Opened two hours before serving but not decanted. Red cherry color. Gorgeous nose of black cherry, red cherry, spice, earth, and a faint hint of orange peel. In the mouth, great intensity without feeling heavy in the least. The fruit explodes on the palate, quickly followed up by layers of complexity. Bright acidity and a magnificent finish. It's really hard to believe it is drinking this well at such a young age. A
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3/9/2010 - T-Mac wrote: 95 Points
I always struggle writing tasting notes for wines that I really enjoy. I'm pretty terrible with words. But this one deserves the effort...
This 2008 Summa Old Vines wears no make-up because there are no flaws or blemishes to cover up. The subtle wisp of her perfume stimulates the senses. There's a quieter confidence in her voice as she sings her haunting song. She is perfect in form, effortlessly impressive, and immensely pleasing. And she is beautiful...naturally.
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12/29/2009 - tanglenet wrote:
Tasted at the winery. Quick notes: cherry with some cinnamon on the nose. On the palate: darker cherry with spice and earth. There was also a harder edge to this wine. Thomas mentioned that the Summa wines need more time to fill out than the other bottlings.
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