Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Took awhile to open up but turned out to be a stunner. Nose of fresh violets with explosive Kirsch, dark raspberry and sandalwood flavors. Mouthfeel is tantalizing, smooth and well balanced. Racy acidity, fine tannins and long finish. Really exceptional for an appellation wine.

Black cherry, citrus, slight menthol.

Last bottle of my 2018 SC.

Followed over two days. Juicy, ripe and balanced. Astounding value at $30. Haven’t found the signature TRB blood orange profile in these RM SCs, but that’s a small nitpick. Loads of red and black berry fruit upfront, boysenberry, red currant and dark florals. Mid palate was much better on day two as it bulked up and showed the nervy side of SC Pinot. It has a high toned/elegant profile while retaining weight. Stylistically it sits in between RRV and cool climate SC. Banging value, as always. Drink now or in the next 3-5yrs.

Ribcap warm up wine.

First well aged TRB Rivers Marie. When you understand that TRB wines are a long hold, its not much of stretch to know it is can be a easy guess as who made this wine. Especially, after nine years in bottle.

The extraction level is all TRB. It’s not Belle Glos Cabernet/Pinot Noir but not Ferren or Williams Selyem. In between & closer to WS. Dark, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, dark cherries, raspberries, overtones of blue fruits, smoked meats, incense, dark spice with heat, alcohol fume, stones, dry crushed limestone, dry twigs, menthol, eucalyptus, mint, fresh; dark, red, blue flowers laid in a field of violets. Acidity is like a rain shower with balance & polish for days.

For my palate, this still needs time. Although, it very approachable for most.

After our little vacation (what a pleasure and luxury after the year we’ve all had) it’s back to home cooking and drinking, and this bottle was sitting aside in the cellar because I was too lazy to reshelve it after pulling it out a few weeks ago and not getting around to drinking it. It smells of dusty dried sage and other herbs with a touch of cedar and red fruits beneath. Exceedingly silky, with dashi and miso notes mixing with raspberry and dried herbs that have this lovely aromatic sweetness that lingers with the herbs in the finish. Very pretty.

Elegant nose & nice complexity.

Delicious sour-cherry fruit would rate higher if heat wasn’t so evident

Nearly opaque reddish purple hue. Raspberry, black cherry, leather, violets, and baking spices evident on the nose. On the palate its bold with a darker fruit profile offering impressive depth and concentration yet with nice balance and 14.1% alcohol. Long, somewhat spicy finish. Really nice value in California Pinot at $36.

Citrus, cranberry, berry bramble, earthiness. Good stuff.

Fresh and lively. Enters with dense fruit that is well framed by acidity and carries through to the pure red fruited finish. With air time the spice flavors develop and there is a little bit of a fresh asphalt note that is delicious.