2017 “Middle Reach Vineyards” Pinot Noir - Domaine de la Rivière

Cherry cola, new leather, boysenberry preserves. Ripe blueberry, Chinese five spice, cranberry compote. Brilliantly aromatic and assertive wafts of raspberry puree, pomegranate, and sarsaparilla highlight a gleefully expressive presentation that is beautifully layered with lifted spice notes of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Bursts of peonies, wild lavender, and blooming rose further enhance the display with deeply fragrant floral perfume that is subtly offset by pretty natural tones of fresh pine, forest floor, and sauteed mushroom. Hints of turned earth and Gold Ridge soil reveal understated suggestions of terroir that do not detract in the slightest from waves of ripe and concentrated fruit. Notably deep, bold, and flavor-packed on both the nose and the palate while still remaining nicely fresh and weightless; exhibiting an enviable combination of balance and brawn that remains solidly representative of both grape and region. Full bodied with delicate tannin backed by elevated acidity. This 2017 "Middle Reach Vineyards" Pinot Noir by Domaine de la Rivière is a plump and pretty red from the Russian River Valley.

Located in the heart of Sonoma County just east of Santa Rosa, the Russian River Valley is a cool yet sunshine-filled winegrowing region that was once California's original hotspot for high quality Pinot Noir. This bottling, crafted by Domaine de la Rivière using Pinot Noir sourced from the Starr Ranch and El Diablo Vineyards both located in the Middle Reach zone of the Russian River Valley, wonderfully captures the unique character of this iconic coastal region. This wine generously spills a wide range of rich dark and red fruits alongside pronounced spices, bold floral tones, clean forest and earth notes, and a textbook hint of cola. Although certainly on the fuller and richer side this maintains the weightless and ethereal qualities that makes great Pinot Noir so special, and is yet another example of why the Russian River Valley name carries such high acclaim. Excellent.