Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2021 vintage. So tasted alongside sister property Cade (and Plumpjack) Howell Mountain Cab. If I weren't so familiar with the Cade HM, woulda sworn this was mountain fruit. This is the leanest, dirtiest SLD effort I've ever had spanning a multiplicity of SLD producers since the 1986 vintage. It's got the underlying structure of Stags Leap District but none of the top layer of richness. It all got scraped off and you are just left with the steak-no sizzle. Comes courtesy of the old old Steltzer property (hadn't heard that winery name in decades and it was the durtiest in SLD!) and the new powers that be turbo-charged it and turned shizz up to 11. Fascinating and phenomenal. Light-medium body and has the color but packs an unexpected Barolo-styled punch. Not your average SLD bear. Watch out for Mr. Ringer...err...Ranger. 10.30.24. — a month ago

John Willison

9.1

Charleston Food and Wine Classic…champagne and caviar tasting. — 2 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

When TRB started this label, I thought a primarily Cabernet Winemaker is going to make Pinot Noir? I wondered how his first vintage would be and while it wasn’t bad by any means, it wasn’t what this 2014 Silver Eagle is at this point. TRB has/is honed/honing his craft. This 2014 will likely continue to improve a bit going forward over the next three years for sure & maybe five. This 14 Silver Eagle is definitely hitting its stride. The nose shows the blue & purple fruits I enjoy on the Pinots I prefer to drink.

The nose reveals nicely ripe blackberries, black raspberries, plum, baked cherries & strawberries, blueberries, mulberries, dry cranberry & raspberries hues on the glass edges. Mid berry cola/licorice, soft baking spices-clove, some nutmeg & vanillin, dark, Asian/Indian spice mix, light mix of fresh & dry herbs, dark rich soil w/ dry leaves, limestone, dry top soil with fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in a fresh violet field.

The palate shows good mouthfeel & wire to wire consistency. Juicy, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, baked cherries & strawberries, blueberry & mulberry tones, pomegranate, cranberry & raspberries hues. Mid berry cola/licorice, soft baking spices-clove, some nutmeg & vanillin, warm caramel, toast, steeped fruit tea, dark, Asian/Indian spice mix with deep palate penetration & heat, light mix of fresh & dry herbs, dark rich soil w/ dry leaves, dry brush, sandalwood, grey volcanics. wet clay, sandstone & limestone powder, dry top soil with fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in a fresh violet field. The acidity is excellent with a long, elegant, well; balanced, tensioned & structured finish that lasts minutes and lands nicely on dark spice as it sets.

I really enjoy this vineyard and some of the Winemakers that make Pinot from it.

Plenty of life left in this one. 8-10 years well stored.

Photos of, Rivers-Marie facility (2), Owner/Winemaker-Thomas Rivers Brown & beautiful prime Pinot clusters ready for harvest. — 3 months ago

Bob Boyle

9.3

On the pour dusty chocolate nose, becoming more prevalent on the swirl, body full with red & black fruit accompanied by soft tannins that framed the fruit nicely with medium long finish. No need for lime with this Corona. — 12 hours ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2022 vintage. Dark red, much deeper colour than usual for this estate. Marie-Laure Lurton seems to have gone for a bit more extraction in this exceptional vintage. More powerful than usual, with a fresh black fruit personality,embedded in a tight, ripe tannic structure. Serious length too. Decanting recommended,as it showed better the next day. Ab. 14%. — 2 months ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Nice Beaujolais. Great ripe fruit balanced with some earth. Only thing keeping this from being higher is a slight bit of heat on the finish, perhaps due to the 14.5%. — 2 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on November 9, 2024 at Home with Jay]

Pomegranate and black raspberry fruit, with black tea notes. — 17 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Declassified vintage. Atypical but still delicious. — a month ago

Steve Bridge

9.5

We got to meet TRB during our visit. He was extremely friendly, welcoming, and engaging. Grapes were coming in throughout our time there. Super cool experience! — 2 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose: serious. Lilacs.

Palate: tense. Structure black red cherry. Grippy. Very good. — 3 months ago