Rivers-Marie, Occidental Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Blackberry and black cherry noted with touch of mushroom on the finish. Very nice accompaniment to sushi

2019 vintage

Pop and pour Grassl Cru stem. Dark purple color. Nose offers dark cherries, spice notes and hint of herbs and dirt. Dark fruited with beautiful spice notes. Good acidity. Shows the slightest hint of menthol and a little kirsch on the finish. 14.3% abv.

2019 vintage

Quintessential Sonoma Coast Pinot. Full-bodied and beautifully balanced with layers of cherry, raspberry, and rhubarb, framed by lively acidity and fine tannins. Subtle orange-peel and spice notes emerge on the back end, adding lift and complexity. The texture is seamless — rich yet energetic — and the finish lingers with a hint of earth and coastal freshness. A superb expression of the site and vintage; drinking wonderfully now but has the structure to age gracefully for several more years.

2019 vintage

Not a bottle that’ll appeal to burgundy loyalists, but a delicious example of new world Pinot. Sour cherry candy, some red citrus, herbal overtones. Medium plus weight amply balanced with good acidity. Tasty, with no extra flab or jam.

2019 vintage

Tasty ripe red cherry and spice on the nose and palate with refreshing acidity and long finish!

2019 vintage

Lovely red fruit with some nice darker hints.

2019 vintage

Terrific wine! Decanted half and kept half for the next day. Both days revealed and excellent, well-balanced with with a dark red or black berry sense. A bit of spice to keep things even more interesting. Shows promise for even better things in the future.

2019 vintage

Opened and poured half into a decanter. Saved. balance. Grassl Cru stem. Dark earthy color. Dark fruit and wet forest earth on the nose. Concentrated blackberry fruit with a Dark earth base and some dried orange peel. Has a nice spice note on the finish. Will update as this continues to open up. Wwith more exposure to air, the wine takes on a darker fruit profile - continuing with the blackberry notes and wet earth.

2019 vintage

Should have reviewed my prior notes before opening but oh well. This was good day 1 and even better day 2 with half bottle remaining. Bottom line, wait a couple of years or open and decant for a few hours. Either way....this is excellent. Really enjoyable! I will say it is super integrated and there isn't a ton of backbone so I don't think it has 5 or more years but I will never know. Just drinks better with some …

2019 vintage

Bright cherries, pomegranate and strawberries, orange rind, mint and a bit of loam. Firing on all cylinders, with a lingering finish. Yum.

2019 vintage

Fabulous Pinot - fruits of the forest and a hint of citrus - smooth, subtle and delicious

2013 vintage

Method: decanted 25 minutes, Burg glass, 62ish degrees Look: medium- plum Nose: ripe cranberry, dark cherry, orange peel, something like light pine, dry forest floor, hint of fresh mushroom; mainly fruity, but with a lot of subtle complexity Palate: ripe cranberry, blood orange; long+ finish orange peel, blood orange, dry herbs, tree bark; dry; medium+ body; low+ plush tannins; medium+ somewhat tart acidity Overall thoughts: Honestly, it's not my favorite flavor profile, but it's so pleasantly complex for the age …

2019 vintage

Nose: cherry, cranberry, blood orange, floral, pine, dry dirt, mushrooms Palate: cranberry, blood orange, floral, something green; finish of cranberry and blood orange; med + body, silky smooth; med acid Overall: fantastic nose; plush body with good tannins. Really nice, definitely a voluptuous Pinot

2019 vintage

I was a bit disappointed in this wine tonight. While the nose showed floral and red fruit notes, I found the palate heavy and oaky. Lacking the delicacy and balance I’ve seen in other R-M Pinots.

2019 vintage

Some red fruits, but mostly blue/purple fruits with a nice balanced supporting structure. A bit of earth and spice, with a touch of nutmeg or mace on the palate. Excellent complexity and finish. This is a winner from Rivers-Marie. Drink now with a brief decant or hold for further development.

2019 vintage

Dim sum on Waikiki

2019 vintage

Popped a couple RM's tonight...wasn't really lookin to post any notes...just drink...BUT as soon as I took a sniff of this one, I was compelled! SO perfumed with exotics...sandalwood, red licorice, smoked cherrywood, fresh crushed wild berries, cranberry sauce, tobacco wrapper...REALLY expressive and intoxicating. In the mouth not as much fireworks, but still lovely lifted freshness of tarted cherry and raspberry...silky smooth and more med bodied showing a cool red fruited transparency...dusty exotic spices...red licorice and crunchy mineral dryness...dried roses/potpourri …

2019 vintage

So good! Mature yet very fresh. Plenty of fruit but certainly not fruity. Acidity was superb and the finish was one to make me saw Wow. One of the best RM I have had( I have had a bunch!)

2019 vintage

Pnp, some red fruits on the nose and spice notes. Dusty cherry, red fruit along with fine dusty tannins, slight earth and spice notes. Moderate smooth finish and yes seemed to open up with more time in the glass over three hours consumed. Seems to by my favorite among RM single vineyard offerings.

2019 vintage

This was an outstanding bottle of Pinot. Opened it at Rutherford Grill in Napa and it was as smooth a Pinot as you could have. Integrated tannins and extremely well balanced. Showed the typical great Cherry Cola and spice notes that I love from this region. I have an affinity for Occidental fruit and clone used here so take from that what you will in terms of my particular rating. I am glad I have a few more to enjoy. …

2013 vintage

This wine was a little more primary than my last bottle, likely variation or perhaps the context of a few more mature wines nearby. Lactic and laced with deep pomegranate and potpourri notes. A little Northern California eucalyptus but this is more marked by youth than any other feature.

2019 vintage

Popped and poured. Aromatic nose of black cherry, raspberry, red plum, earth and spice. Ripe black cherry, raspberry, earth and spice on the palate. Very pure with a long finish. Medium bodied with excellent depth. Elegant. Served with coq au vin.

2019 vintage

I kind of find Occidental to be hit or miss for me. This one has a typical Rivers-Marie flavor profile of mandarin orange, baking spice, bright cherry and a bit of dust. Fades considerably with air, so I suggest drinking now. 90+ points on day 1, more like 85 on day 2 and beyond.

2013 vintage

Decanted for one hour. Nose of black cherry, black raspberry, toasted oak, earth and spice. Black and red fruit, earth, toasted oak, spice and fine tannins on the palate. Long ripe, fruit-driven finish. Medium bodied. Served with smoked salmon.

2019 vintage

Juicy red cherry and spice. Not a lot of aromatics but very tasty.

2019 vintage

This was just delightful. Everything one wants in a California pinot. It’s got spice, ripe red fruits, medium bodied but rather plush, polished tannic structure. Quite rich and delicious. To me, this is actually the wine you want with a ribeye. Delicious and while very primary, it wasn’t at all a waste for my palate.

2019 vintage

This is so seamless and complete already. I have doubt that it’ll drink well for a decade but it is almost perfect right now, with everything in place. Give it an hour of air and enjoy.

2019 vintage

There is that orange/tangerine rind signature, framing this wine of course. But there seems to be some level of layering that is beyond what I'm used to seeing with this bottling. Sort of earthiness folding into strawberry compote folding into forest floor folding into sassafras tinged boysenberry and probably whatever else strikes your fancy. Its just got a lot going on. There are hints of wood treatment. Rich yet not really showing high extract. Just enough acid though lacking tannin. …

2019 vintage

Still right there

2013 vintage

at peak. boy do these age well

2013 vintage

Method: Pop and pour (Coravined); 58 degrees; Burg glass Look: deep muddled garnet, but very pale towards the edge; high turbidity (maybe a lot of fine sediment went through the Coravin); high amount of fast legs Nose: black cherry, allspice, nutmeg, sandalwood, dry forest, light cola Palate: black cherry, blood orange, forest floor, dried herbs; long- finish blood orange peel, pepper, dried herbs; dry; medium body; low, silky tannins; medium+ acidity; maybe low- heat, right on the border Overall thoughts: …

2006 vintage

Deep garnet, cloudy Nose: cherry cola, clay pot, forest floor, sandalwood Palate: medium body; high - acid; low tannins; blood orange, cherry cola, forest floor, herbal tea & dried herbs; very slight heat. Overall: Great flavors and mouthfeel but not super complex. Very drinkable and yummy. Acid is high but works well.

2006 vintage

Beauty nose. Palate less revealing. Forest nuance, corn husk, vitamin C, very good length from acidity, mid palate shy. Be sure to smell it each sip!

2013 vintage

Crimson in color. 14.2% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, citrus, baking spices and forest floor. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Rich, plush and exceedingly elegant. Black cherry, cranberry, pomegranate and cola on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and seamless. Classy Pinot Noir that is aging gracefully. What a delight. Best over the next several years.

2013 vintage

Delicious ripe red cherry, earth, pine, and a hint of grapefruit on the nose and palate with refreshing acidity on the long finish.

2013 vintage

As delicious as the last bottle!

2013 vintage

Wine seemed very flat and after about 20 minutes, it was evident it was corked. Bummer.

2013 vintage

Big profile. Deep and towards the purple fruit end of the spectrum. Not the aromatic diversity I crave from an R-M pinot, so a bit of a let down in that respect. think this is the 'biggest' styled bottle from R-M that I've opened. A Steak pinot, if you will. Good but monolithic/monotone so not a wow bottle for me.

2013 vintage

Most of the primary fruit is gone. Past peak IMO.

2013 vintage

PnP. Medium deep red. Gorgeous nose of red fruits and blood orange. Wonderful velvety texture on the palate with sweet red fruit. Long finish. Similar to the bottle I had 3 years ago, though perhaps even better. Not sure this will continue to improve but this is perhaps the best Pinot from Rivers-Marie based on this performance.

2013 vintage

More medium body vs Goia and Summa, stronger flavors on the palate, very good

2013 vintage

Full nose — stems, leaves, nice cherry baked goods, too. Deep, powdery, dusty cherry, with a little blue fruit, too. Still nice acid. Mild secondary chocolate, baking spice flavors. I can’t believe there’s this much flavor, youth still at this point. Must have much more life.

2013 vintage

Delicious tart red cherry, earth, pine, and a hint of grapefruit on the nose and palate with refreshing acidity on the long finish. Previous bottle was a bit off.

2013 vintage

Red raspberry, red cherry and earth notes on the nose. Between medium and full bodied (14.2% ABV) with red cherry and red raspberry providing the dominant notes both upfront and through the middle. It might not sound particularly exciting, but what makes it so is the balance and the fruit expression. Behind the fruit was some tart red cherry notes, drifting into lighter, brighter strawberry. Combined with the acidity and fine-grained tannins they make for a deft counterpoint to the …

2013 vintage

It’s good but I don’t think it is getting better - would drink it now

2013 vintage

I have had these before from other vintages and I like them but this really shined tonight. The nose is very pronounced with red fruit and dark cola and spice. It was great just to enjoy that for a bit. Drank at cellar temp of mid to high 50s. Probably 2/3 through paired with some grilled chicken and pasta and want to see how the next 1/3 is tomorrow. This was better than anticipated and so easy to drink and …

2013 vintage

Opened for a virtual Zoon tasting with TRB. Nearly 15 years on and this wine is going very strong with rich, sappy black cherry with that signature hint of orange peel. Very good concentration with plenty of juicy freshness. Should continue to hold and will keep my final bottle for 5+ years (hopefully) to test the aging curve of Occidental Ridge.

2006 vintage

My final bottle of 2013 OX, using tonight for the the Wine Berserkers RM Zoom event. Opened about 45 mins ago, drinking first pour at room temp of 65f. Couple things right off strike me about the wine. In no order.......the weight. Distinctly medium weighted, even polished and I really want to say lithe, but I have not used that word I think ever in a RM tasting note. What I am trying to convey is a gentler weight. Very …

2013 vintage

Tasty but very ripe dark cherry and spice on the nose and palate with moderate finish.

2013 vintage

Very good start to finish. Seems like it may be at the tail end of its peak drinking window though. I would say drink em if you have em.

2013 vintage

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Rivers-Marie, Occidental Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

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