2010 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard

Good medium red. Aromas of strawberry and mint, with hints of oyster shell and sea spray. More intensely flavored but drier and more savory than the basic Sonoma Coast blend, with more minerality and firm acidity framing the strawberry and mint flavors. Intensely flavored but a bit youthfully spiky today, with its acids, tannins and ripe fruit requiring a year or two to knit.

The 2010 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard is laced with freshly cut flowers, mint, roses and sweet red berries, all of which are woven together in a fabric of unusual class. Sweet floral notes lead to a long, sensual finish underpinned by lively acidity. This feminine, totally sensual Pinot possesses striking overall balance and tons of finesse. The Occidental has the highest acidity of the 2010 Pinots, which should help it age gracefully over the coming years.

The 2010 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard is laced with freshly cut flowers, mint, roses and sweet red berries, all of which are woven together in a fabric of unusual class. Sweet floral notes lead to a long, sensual finish underpinned by lively acidity. This feminine, totally sensual Pinot possesses striking overall balance and tons of finesse. The Occidental has the highest acidity of the 2010 Pinots, which should help it age gracefully over the coming years. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. This is a beautiful set of Pinot Noirs from proprietors Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh. Brown notes that the 2010 vintage was not looking so great at a number of these sites because of the cold summer. The late September heat wave gave the vines the last kick they needed to fully ripen. Brown gave the 2010 Pinots 10 months in French oak barrels ranging from 25-80% new. As good as the vineyard designates are, the real star here is the Sonoma Coast bottling, which is one of the most fairly priced Pinot Noirs from anywhere in the world. Tel. (707) 341-3127