by Patchen Markell » Sun Nov 19, 2017 10:45 pm
Rivers-Marie 2010 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, "Gioia Vineyard." 14.1% abv. Rich, concentrated, and expansively aromatic black cherry and strawberry fruit over layers of forest (floor and bough), some stemminess, iron, and a long, lightly vanilla-laced finish. My first example of Rivers-Marie. For my taste, and given that the rest of the wine seems expressive and ready to go, it's still a little too easy to isolate the effects of the barrel treatment on the palate, but that's a very small complaint; overall, I'm pleased with the balance and the dynamism of the wine. One more bottle of this to go, which we'll probably drink in the relatively near term (before 10 years from vintage, for sure). I also have a 2011 Silver Eagle and a couple of '14 Summas.
cheers, Patchen