Some time ago along with Zach Lang and Peter Czyrkyckyra , we had the chance of working through a few Rivers Marie pinot’s with TRB. 2009 was an interesting vintage for Thomas, most notably bringing on Silver Eagle, a new vineyard farmed by Ulises Valdez. Also, in 2009 the Willow Creek and regular Summa bottling will not be available as all of the juice went into the Sonoma Coast blend. It is important to note that while there will not be a 2009 Summa there will still be a 2009 Summa OV. All the wines showed really well and are very classically styled with low alcohol, nice balance and a good amount weight while remaining quite elegant. The wines will be released at the end of January 2011 with allocations staying mostly the same.
Cant wait to get my hands on these!
2009 Rivers Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Such a bargain and impossible to find a better CA pinot for under $30. Much more dense, dark and broad than the single vineyard designates. Blood red color with some lightening around the edges. Tons of baking spice on the nose, pureed strawberries and raspberries, sappy red fruits and hints of black tea. Really round and rich in the mouth, a touch of bottle sweetness, nice and plush from front to back. Good acid, nice sappy texture, polished tannins, hint of cranberry and spice on the finish.
2009 Rivers Marie Silver Eagle Pinot Noir
As mentioned above this is a new addition to Rivers Marie for 2009. Thomas seems pretty excited about this new vineyard. Only 72 cases +/- were made of this wine in 2009 and it will be sold in 2 bottle allocations. Thank goodness for Thomas’s hate of single bottle allocations as this wine was really special and will probably sell out fast. Nice clean bright ruby color with lightening at the edges. Nose is very intoxicating with bright red fruits, hints of sous bois, floral scents and great spice. Palate is delicate, airy, and almost light but at the same time packed with flavor and concentration. More sappy red fruit qualities, pronounced baking spice notes all the way through and mellow toasty oak. Great mouthfeel and weight packed with flavor but remains very elegant and refined. Impeccable balance and polish, near weightless in the mouth. I am really looking forward to the release of this one.
2009 Rivers Marie Occidental Ridge Pinot Noir
This wine when compared to the others SVD’s is much darker, raw and concentrated. Color is noticeably darker than the other wines showing off a purplish ruby red color. Nose if explosive with cinnamon, nutmeg, sappy cherries, raspberries and maybe a hint of pomegranate. Nose if super savory with a hint of citrus like orange zest, fruit is very perfume like all layered with more baking spices. On the palate the wine is much more dense, layered and full. Rich savory palate presence with more of the raspberries, pomegranate and maybe even some blackberries. A bit more oak presence on the wine which compliments the extra weight in the mouth. Medium body with ample acid and a more obvious tannin structure. Toasty tobacco like oak rolled with the sappy fruit on the finish with maybe the smallest hint of baking cocoa after the finish lingers around. A bit of bottle sweetness on the mouth with this wine which is not overbearing in any way. Great wine with a much darker fruit profile and denser mouthfeel; really great stuff that should age nicely.
2009 Rivers Marie Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir
When I saw that we would taste the 2009 Summa OV, I couldn’t wait to get to it! Ruby red color, light enough to see your fingers on the other side of the glass. Nose is very intoxicating, delicate, yet still very rich. Gorgeous red fruits, mashed strawberries, raspberry puree, and red currants. Layered with the fruit is a great smashing of delicate spice, sous bois, citrus peel, and maybe a hint of ginger. On the palate this wine is amazingly delicate, weightless but at the same time concentrated and loaded with great flavor. More of the red fruit profile in the mouth, a bit more Asian spice, forest floor, maybe a touch of light cranberry, with the smallest influence of oak. The texture and weight of the wine is really something else, pure, linear, not one hard edge to be found. Graceful in the mouth, almost weightless but really concentrated with deep flavors. A special wine that I can’t wait to try a few years down the road.
