Rivers Marie 2018 Pinot Noir, Silver Eagle – 98 Points

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “On another level aromatically, the 2018 Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard has a gorgeous nose of black raspberries, lit gunpowder, spice, dried flowers, and hints of pine forest. This carries to an ethereal, elegant Pinot Noir with perfectly integrated acidity and tannins, terrific mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It’s just a beautiful Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir in every sense.”

Winery Notes: “With a line up of Calera, VR, and Swan clones, Silver Eagle now has a firmer, less fruit-forward character than years past.  The addition of 15% whole cluster in this vintage also makes this the most structured wine in the lineup.  The wine leads with a savory edge of tobacco, grilled nuts, and dried flowers.  Sweet red cherries, plum, licorice, leather, and spice dominate the palate.  There’s only 10% new oak here so the character of the vineyard in this vintage really shines through.  We’ve been at it here since 2009 and feel extremely fortunate to be presenting our 10th edition of this site from Ulises Valdez and his family.”