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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.5 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 107 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Nanda on 9/18/2021 & rated 90 points: I didn’t enjoy this as much as my prior bottle three+ years ago. The fruit has great concentration it just felt a little more sweet and less fresh then the prior bottle. Lots of fun mint and spice accents. Time to drink up. (1189 views) | | | Tasted by sjtave on 1/10/2020: Beautiful. Had a glass via Coravin just over a year ago, and thought the flavors and aromas were nice but the body a little thin. This time, gave it about an hour to come to temperature and about 15 minutes in the glass and it was singing from the start. Primarily red fruits (cherry/cranberry) with some hints of black and blue berries; nose of baking spices and a little funk. Great, well-rounded mouthfeel and really no off notes. Didn’t get the sense that this is about to go over a cliff, but there’s no reason to hold these any longer. (1294 views) | | | Tasted by La Cave d'Argent on 6/15/2019 & rated 91 points: This opaque garnet wine was sampled in single-blind fashion at a global Pinot Noir tasting. Ripe and fairly heavily extracted, it delivers a core of dark bramble fruits, black cherries, baking spices, orange zest, smoke and lavender. For a Pinot, this is a full-bodied wine that supports its lush fruit with fresh acidity, moderate oak and residual tannins that are silky in texture. Despite its ripeness, the alcohol (listed as 14.2%) is nicely integrated. Dense in the middle and finishing with impressive length, this is a delicious mature Pinot that should be at its best over the next 2-3 years. Drink now-2022. (1451 views) | | | Tasted by Paul Lin on 11/4/2018 & rated 91 points: Drinking very well right now. Not as bright and lush as in its youth but it has staved off the secondary characteristics of aging pretty well thus far. Notes of ripe cherry, raspberries, and strawberries. (1375 views) | | | Tasted by Nanda on 1/14/2018 & rated 94 points: Pop, poured and enjoyed over a few hours. Quite possibly my favorite Rivers Marie Pinot showing in over a decade of buying, cellaring and drinking the wines (and simultaneously, albeit slowly, shifting to and favoring Burgundy over that same ten years). Such a complete wine that is surely at peak. A mesmerizing nose of red cherry, wintergreen, spice and just the slightest hint of orange peel. The palate is rich while not ripe. Dazzling acidity. Terrific depth and layering. Long, spice-filled and elegant finish. I've always found RM pinots to be delicious, but this one just hit so many more buttons.
Perhaps these coastal RM vineyard sites need 12-15 years to hit my sweet spot. (1802 views) | | | Tasted by JonnyG on 12/2/2016 & rated 92 points: Came off as fresh and potentially not at peak, with great Sonoma typicity. Nose of cherries and herbs. Sour cherry palate with nice lift and energy. Impressive. (1798 views) | | | Tasted by Frank Murray III on 6/27/2016: Drank over dinner last night, was shared amongst friends so nothing to retaste today. From memory, this was holding up well, still showing plenty of fruit and just some emerging hints of maturity, mainly in the color and also the palate impression. However, these were minority aspects of a wine that at 10 years old is showing well. (2226 views) | | | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 12/16/2015 & rated 92 points: Tasting Group Holiday Party (Mouton, Laurent, Essencia, Hundred Acre, Staglin, +++) (University Circle): Interesting to have this side by side with the 05 Laurent CdlR. This is drinking so much younger. Very deep ruby/purple in color. The nose is very nice with dark cherries, sour cherries and slight weedy/herbal note. Though green, I liked it and did not find that quality off putting. Interesting. I meant to go back to see if it blew off, but forgot. The palate has great sour cherries with nice acidity. Perhaps the slightest of root beer notes. Very food friendly. I think there is still further potential here. (2902 views) | | | Tasted by Nanda on 1/19/2015 & rated 92 points: Broad, full and appealing nose that unmistakably the Sonoma coast. Bright red cranberry, strawberry and cherry fruits, stemmy toasted herbs, clove, all spice and evergreen notes. Palate has medium rich fruit with bright juicy acidity. Fresh, pure and long. Spice-filled red fruit finish. (2615 views) | | | Tasted by tederf on 12/3/2013 & rated 90 points: Decanted for a couple of hours. Agree with many other notes - I also got the dark cherry with cranberry and spice. I found it bright and tasty with a long finish. I didn't get a lot of alcohol and felt the acid level was fine. Glad I have some more of this. (3342 views) | | | Tasted by rjoyer on 11/26/2013: Occidental certainly sticks out as a sore thumb (to me at least) when compared to the other '05 Rivers Marie wines (Summa OV, Summa and Sonoma Coast), especially in the early days (I have fewer data points with the newer vintages, especially now with the addition of Gioia and Silver Eagle). That said, this wine has grown up quite a bit with a few years of age and sits in what I would consider to be a prime drinking window after 2+ hours of air. Cinnamon, clove and cocoa notes all come and go, but the backbone is all centered on dark cranberries. My nits would be that I'd like a bit more acidity and that there is some wood tannin, suggesting that further aging is an option, though I plan to drink my remaining bottle by Thanksgiving 2015. (2931 views) | | | Tasted by Mrbuzz on 11/17/2013 & rated 94 points: Sadly my last bottle from release....drinking beautifully! Darker wild berry(cherry,cranberry,raspberry) showing just a tad of age.....wonderful sandalwood spice box, stem funk, forest floor, tobacco.....still has a bright crunch to the cranberry skin acidity....balanced well with the aging fruit. Even a little pomegranate liqueur, and some hay bale. Tasty wine here, aging well! (2787 views) | | | Tasted by MarkC on 5/13/2013: I tend to love R-M Pinots, but, unfortunately, this bottle was all alcohol and very little fruit, both on the nose and the palate. (2814 views) | | | Tasted by pjhr on 9/3/2012 & rated 93 points: Starts out a bit über ripe but comes together beautifully with a touch of air. Lovely nose, acidity and finish that make this simply delicious! (2491 views) | | | Tasted by fisk15 on 12/27/2011 & rated 86 points: This bottle was much more pruney and over ripe tasting than the previous. A bit four square, without the forest and pine notes mixed with tart red fruit noted in other bottles. Marking this up to variation. (2760 views) | | | Tasted by Federsin on 12/8/2011: First of four bottles, opened and poured, darker red in the glass, cherries on the nose, medium bodied wine with cassis, black cherries and a bit of spice and earth, good texture (dry extract?) and mouth feel, good acidity, long finish, delicious wine, it would be interesting to see how this wine continues to age, but it is definitely drinking well now (2617 views) | | | Tasted by Paul Lin on 12/2/2011 & rated 89 points: This wine is starting to see some evolution. Notes of Queen Anne cherries, blood oranges, and cranberry sauce (with hints of clove and orange peel). Red fruited across the palate. Tart yet ripe with some mixed wild berries on the finish. The level of complexity has dropped compared to previous bottles, and this one even shows a touch of heat, but I still think this wine is still on the upswing. (2886 views) | | | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 11/14/2011 & rated 93 points: Saturday afternoon with friends: I thought this was fantastic. Its full throttle and young. Despite its size, it is balanced. Perhaps a slight bit of alcohol showing. Lots of dark cherries on the nose and palate. Nice aacidity. Long finish. Lots of time for this, but lots of fun right now. (3389 views) | | | Tasted by Lessthanzero on 8/20/2011 & rated 90 points: Color me confused. I just don't understand what the hubub is all about. Well crafted pinot, but big, with lots of alcohol, and aslight glue-y-ness that never quite disappeared. Othrerwise tart, sour cherries, red fruit, with some cinnamon spice thrown in. I don't think I'm drinking this too early? (2162 views) | | | Tasted by OCgasman on 6/1/2011 & rated 92 points: Just an excellent bottle of wine. Delicious. In a good place now. (2505 views) | | | Tasted by Brewcreu on 3/12/2011 & rated 94 points: Fantastic wine. Upon first opening the wine was not overblown. Dark fruit on the first taste, with the alcohol giving a slight citrus mouthfeel. Finish was of red cherries. After being open for an hour the alcohol had burned off a bit, but still the tannin/alcohol/fruit balance was still perfect. Much more in a burgundian style than the typical fruity California pinot. (2754 views) | | | Tasted by DougLee on 2/20/2011 & rated 92 points: Dark ruby color. Nose of musk, raspberry, anise, lilies, earth. Drenching, concentrated fruit on the palate with layers of spicy black raspberry, cherry, and iodine. Big wine with a healthy slug of alcohol but also enticing acidity and minerality amidst austere tannins. Long finish with echoes of raspberry, iron, and cola. This wine has really blossomed in the 2 years since the last taste, and has years more to go. (2490 views) | | | Tasted by wequedad on 1/23/2011 & rated 93 points: Just magic. Wonderful clear ruby color almost to the rim. Nose of curshed berries and cranberry with mushroom/forest floor notes. Perfectly balanced. Just the right acidity to offset the fruit and and tannins. Slightly chewy with waves of dark cherry, cassis, leather and spice. Long finish.
I'm a big fan of the Summa Old Vines but this belongs in the same league. Three to go. (3159 views) | | | Tasted by jfkwines on 1/18/2011: Significantly more earth and minerals than The 07 SC that we drank with this. This is really good stuff, heavy doses of blueberries, with a slight hint of vanilla and wonderful earthiness makes this a wine ready to go now. We really enjoyed it. (2607 views) | | | Tasted by toddjerry on 12/31/2010 & rated 93 points: Dark, deep red in color. Big, brooding in the mouth. Plenty of tannin, but great balance, red fruits, forest floor, mineral streak, great complexity. Really enjoyable. Drinking well, and will last a while. (2818 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Allen Meadows
Burghound, 4th Quarter, 2007, Issue #28
(Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2007, IWC Issue #132
(Rivers Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Sonoma Coast) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (4/24/2009)
(Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard) Medium dark cherry red color with clear meniscus; big, bright and tart red fruit and mineral nose; tasty, tart red fruit, cherry and horehound palate with depth; medium-plus finish 91+ pts. (needs 2 to 3 years) 91 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (10/28/2008)
(Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard) 15 pts.; Group's #1, my #2; dark cherry red color; Burgundian cherry and green nose; tasty, tart red fruit, tart cherry and iron palate; medium finish 91+ pts. 91 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (8/8/2007)
(Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard) Focused, ripe, sassafras and red fruit nose; most intriguing palate of the four, with tart red fruit, iron and good acidity; medium-plus finish 91+ pts. 91 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/19/2007)
(Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard) Dark violet red color, slightly cloudy; big, flavorful, cherry, rhubarb and red fruit palate; long finish 93 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Burghound and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Rivers-Marie Producer website2005 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyardnewsletter notes:
2005 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir- 140 cases produced, 67% new French oak, 14.2% alc. This is a little bit of a departure for us. Grown on the east side of Occidental and planted to Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777, our first ORV Pinot has a more black fruited core when compared to our previous wines. The aromas are darker as well: blackberries, cola, sassafras, forest floor. The wine has more purple hues compared to the Summa's red/black center. Before you begin thinking we've changed our style, the most intriguing thing about this wine might be its acid profile. The '05 Occidental Ridge is the lowest pH wine we made from the vintage (even lower than the Summa Old Vines) clocking in around 3.6. All the coastal brashness is there along with a good dollop of tannin and acidity to carry the finish. We are very pleased to have added Darla and Richard Radcliffe's Occidental Ridge Vineyard to the fold and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.Pinot Noir Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.
Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.
Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.
The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.
Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.
In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.
With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.
Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Sonoma CountyMendocino CountySonoma Coast * Sonoma Coast AVA (Wikipedia)
* Sonoma Coast AVA (Wine Institue) |
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