Vineyard: Occidental Ridge

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Rivers-Marie: Past & Present (11.1 3/29/2017)
Rivers Marie: Back on Track in 2012 (9.40 4/17/2014)
Recent Sips of California Pinot Noir (10.10 5/11/2015)
Three Amigos Matched Up (6.1 10/15/2006)
Tastes of World of Pinot Noir (10.7 4/6/2015)
Rivers-Marie: Show Stopper Pinot Noir (7.21 7/9/2009)
Rivers-Marie: 2010 & 2011 Reflect the Challenges of Farming on the Edge (9.24 5/5/2013)
Olympics of Cult Pinot Collectibles (7.1 8/19/2008)
Thomas Brown: Rivers-Marie (6.62 7/19/2008)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir (& Chardonnay) (10.1 12/11/2014)
Rivers-Marie 2009 Pinot Noir (8.43 9/2/2011)

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Rivers-Marie
DuMOL
Failla Wines
Kistler Vineyards

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2015 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 110 cases, $50. · Dark reddish purple color in the glass. The nose is rather muted and primary, offering delicate aromas of ripe dark fruits and spice. Extremely sappy in a kinky way, but not jammy, with a full-bodied core of sweet, teeth-staining ollaliberry and blackberry goodness. Noticeable, but engaging tannins, enough natural acidity for juiciness, with an intensely fruity and explosive finish. Typical of this vineyard (see tasting of older vintages) but with heightened concentration in this vintage. Score: 92. Reviewed March 29, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Failla Occidental Ridge Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The dreamy aromas of cherry pie and brown baking spices are intoxicating. Impressive harmony and flavor, featuring mid weight black cherry and black raspberry fruits with good tension and slightly steely acidity. Impressive finishing drive and length. I really liked this wine for its bright demeanor. Score: 92-94. Reviewed April 4, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., $50. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The best nose in this 2013 lineup of Rivers-Marie Pinot Noirs, sporting effusive aromas of black cherry tart, spice and underbrush. Sweet, sappy flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and pomegranate explode on the palate in this bold and luscious wine. Despite its richness, the wine is slick and refined, with balanced tannins and a very long finish. An angelic fruit bomb. Score: 92. Reviewed May 14, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., 325 cases, $50. Clones 115, 667 and 777. The warmest site, yet also the most acidic. Small amount of whole cluster inclusion. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The expressive nose reaches more heights over time in the glass to reveal aromas of cherry, raspberry coulis, sandalwood and earth notes. Clean and silky on the palate with mid weight flavors of red cherries and berries, picking up weight over time in the glass. Well-crafted and very pleasant with a good cut of acidity and a charming cherry-infused finish. The most feminine wine in the lineup. Score: 93. Reviewed April 19, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Failla Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 575 cases, $55. · Medium reddish purple color in the glass. Pleasant aromas of mixed berries, sous-bois, and subtle oak and vanilla. A nuanced wine with considerable charm, offering flavors of boysenberry, black raspberry, black cherry, plum, spice and a woodsy conifer edge. Impeccable harmony with an impressive finish lifted by refreshing acidity. Quintessential west Sonoma Coast gem. Score: 92. Reviewed December 10, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

12.8% alc., 160 cases, $45. One of the lightest wines in 2011. Aged in 33% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy and not particularly appealing with aromas of red and blue berries, apple and green beans. The red fruit flavors trump the nose but the wine is still rather shallow from entry through the finish, and noticeably less concentrated and ripe than the 2010 vintage. There is an appealing finesse and elegance on display, but the crisp acidity overwhelms the meager fruit. Slightly better the next day from a previously opened and recorked bottle. Good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · Dark reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of black raspberry, fig, tobacco smoke and oak rise up from the glass. Concentrated flavors of sweet dark berry and plum with immersed tannins. Still young, without significant tertiary characters, a pleasingly silky mouthfeel, and a well-endowed finish filled with copious sweet fruit. Drink now to 2022+. Score: 92. Reviewed March 29, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 185 cases, $45. Aged in 60% new French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Ying (savory) and yang (fruit) nose offering scents of dark stone fruits, cinnamon spice, forest floor, pine, mushroom and oak. Plush, full and creamy on the palate featuring flavors of dark red berries and plums, finishing soft and intense with a good cut of acidity. The ripest and most concentrated wine in the 2010 lineup, but not weighty. One of the biggest Rivers-Marie wines ever and a magnet for fruit lovers. Very good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., 133 cases, $45. Aged in 33% new French oak barrels.The grape berries were exceptionally small in 2009, composed of only skin and seed. · The resulting juice was dark purple. Dark black plum color in the glass. Aromas of blackberries, dark stone fruits, oak spice and slight reduction. Richly fruited with intense flavors of grilled black fruits, cassis and an underlying savory note. Bright acidity, soft tannins and a smooth mouth feel add to the appeal. This Pinot has as enough acidity to balance out the bold fruit. Very good. Reviewed September 2, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2008 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.1% alc.. · Gorgeous deep reddish purple color with some thinning of color on the rim. Aromas of black cherry, dusty rose. wood spice and sweaty saddle leather (? Brett). Impressive freshness on the palate, with a charge of opulent black cherry and purple berry fruits accented with cake spice and a subtle infusion of oak. Diaphanous tannins with a lingering, sweet fruited finish. Drink now to 2020. Score: 90. Reviewed March 29, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Clones 115, 777. · The deepest colored wine in the lineup. Plenty of acidity that is hidden by the fruit richness present. Mouthcoating aromas and flavors of fresh berries, mocha, and graham. A Lolita, but still hitting plenty of high notes. Reviewed July 19, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 225 cases, $25. Sourced from clone 667 from Occidental Ridge, the youngest block of Summa Vineyard and three barrels of Willow Creek Vineyard that didn’t make the vineyard cut. Aged in 25% new French oak. · Very pretty aromas of red and black cherries, wildflowers and cardamon spice. Tasty potpourri of layered fruits including black cherries, black raspberries, plums and pomegranate with hints of oak and earth. A lift of acidity on the moderately persistent finish makes for easy drinkability. A good wine in its own right that would compete with many wines priced significantly higher, but outclassed by the other wines in the Rivers-Marie lineup. Drinkable now. Reviewed July 9, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., 180 cases, $45. Clones 115 and 777. Aged in 40% new French oak. · Complex aromatic profile of dark stone fruits, crushed berries, sage, green garden and smoke. Rich and perfectly ripe black raspberry fruit with an underpinning of earth, oak and orange peel. Thick and robust, yet perfectly balanced with complimentary tannins and acidity. The aromatic and fruity finish is haunting. A thoroughbred that challenges the Summa Old Vines for superiority. Reviewed July 9, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Rivers-Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.2% alc.,140 cases, $40. Clones 115, 667, 777. Aged in 67% new oak. · Pie-spiced black cherries and cola carry the show from start-to-finish. A complimentary citrus note adds zip and zing to the finish. All silk and satin with an appealing elegance unique among this lineup of wines. This wine will match much better with food than several of the heavyweight cult wines tasted because of its lively acidity. Reviewed August 19, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Kistler Cuvee Catherine Occidental Station Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 1,000 cases, $90. · This seemed to be an off bottle and clearly the least appealing wine in the lineup. The fruit was muted on the nose and in the mouth. No TCA was detectable by the group. Aromas of green beans and faint berries led to simple dark red fruit flavors, primarily black raspberry, with lively acidity on the finish. Decent tasting but not of “cult” caliber. Reviewed August 19, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2002 DuMOL Finn Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

326 cases, $75. Occidental Road Vineyard and Widdoes Vineyard. Pommard, Swan, Calera, and old Beringer selections. Aged 16 months in 75% new oak. The winemaker is Andy Smith. Www.dumolwine.com · A terrific wine and my favorite of the trio. Very attractive Bing cherry, spice box, and sandalwood aromas draw you in with similar flavors repeated on the palate. Exquisite balance. This wine will age well for several years. Reviewed October 15, 2006 WINERY » ARTICLE »