2011 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard

Black cherries, plums, spices and new leather all come to life in the 2011 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated, the 2011 impresses for its nuance. The 2011 is a bit lighter than most recent vintages, but at the same time, the wine retains a buoyancy and vibrancy that is hugely appealing. Saline notes support the bright finish. This is a gorgeous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. Rivers-Marie stands out for many reasons, not the least of which is the exceedingly fair prices set by owners Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh. Like all of his colleagues, Brown struggled to achieve normal levels of ripeness in 2011. The crop set was poor, and there was no heat to speak of the entire year. The Pinots were harvested in October, exceedingly late by Pinot standards. Yields came in at a tiny. 75 to 1 ton per acre. As for the wines, they are quite pretty, if naturally a bit more slender than normal. Tel. (707) 341-3127