John Willison

9.1

You can imagine this fruit at a straight up Pinot. Back drop of raspberry, black cherry, red licorice, and damp earth. But in a rose wrapper of crispness and acidity. — 7 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Darker in color... richer in taste... higher in ABV than normal— reflecting the warmth of the vintage. Bright sour cherry notes with nice mid - weight palate. I do love the style, but prefer 2011 and 2013. Decent Valentine quaff with Squab and Filet. — 7 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.2

Re-taste most a year later. Coconut, blueberry, black cherry, huge. Aromatic chocolate must. — 8 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.1

Blackberry, raspberry preserves, cherry cola, vanilla, licorice and oak. Great structure and moderate tannins — 9 years ago

Louie Christensen

9.1

If Cherry Cola came out with an organic version...this would be it. And that isn't a bad thing. Great complexity, but all wrapped up in warm familiarity — 10 years ago

Eric Vrtis

9.2

Right up my alley. Full bore with black tea, baked cherry and plum pie, black licorice, raspberry compote rubbed leather. Rooibos finish. — 10 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.1

Wow! Complex floral and red fruit nose. Bright cherry and baking spice. Fabulous with braised beef shank/morel entree. Seriously refined. #matthiasson — 10 years ago

with Chad

Dan White

9.0

Ripe raspberry and cherry up front. Very bright ruby color. Balanced structure. Overall, a very tasty Pinot that lines up well against other fruit forward / acid driven Pinots. — 10 years ago

JM

9.0

Blueberry — 11 years ago

Dena Prasher

9.2

Drank with Meg Clark at Flora Farms in Cabo — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep Ruby with medium+ aromas of black fruits, spice and oak notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, blueberry and black cherry with vanilla, smoke and charred wood notes. Full-body, generous acidity, medium+ tannins on a lingering finish, very good ending with an oaky character. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Turd Ferguson

9.0

More advanced than expected for its age. Sarsaparilla. Black cherry. I think I preferred it two years ago as a youngster. — 8 years ago

kevin thalmann

9.2

Held up over 3 nights. More spice than usual, light tannic structure, cherry and a bit of earth on the palate. Finish waned by day 3 but still sweet and enjoyable. — 8 years ago

Benny Riccardi

9.4

Restrained out the gate with a dried fruit leather, strawberry aroma. Absolutely delicious flavors like cherry and a juicy feel with good, light tannin framing the finish. — 9 years ago

with Brittnie

kevin thalmann

9.1

Young syrah but opened up nicely. Drank over 3 days and got better each time. Rich fruit, black cherry, currants, a little plum and raisin. Very good mouth feel, enjoyable young but needs a little air. — 10 years ago

Heidi Lauer

10

my all time favorite cider — 10 years ago

Austin Blackwell

9.0

Noce cherry, plum, and toasted oak with a richness initially and some good viscosity and structure. A little lacking in acidity but good Napa Cab under $30 nonetheless. — 10 years ago

with Effie

Kris Kaz

9.1

Yummy. Strong cherry notes. Especially fitting that were enjoying this in Michigan. I can always rely on this one. — 10 years ago

Karl Sjogren

8.9

Nice, light fruit. Very sweet cherry. — 11 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.4

Stellar. Black cherry. Mellow tannins. — 11 years ago

Sarah Keith

9.2

A little effervescence at first, which is interesting, but then tons of cherry, fruit, spice. A little sour. I really really love this pinot. — 12 years ago

with Richard

William Feinstein

9.1

Hint of brett on the nose (in a good way). Bing cherry, lavender and cola on the palate. Tannins very well integrated. Long, balanced finish. In a good place now but unlikely to develop further so I would drink up. — 7 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Don't ever pass on the second labels, pricing is always attractive in comparison, especially in a great vintage!

Decanting now, notes forthcoming...
Initial nose has dark and dusty fruits as the wine entered the decanter, think a good night will lay ahead.

Getting into this finally, after ~3 hours in the decanter.

Nose has moist earth, tanned leather, ripe plum, cassis must, touch of eucalyptus and tobacco.
Palate has ripe plum, ripe black cherry, faint mulberry, fresh plum skin, eucalyptus and green+red peppers. Tannins are medium, but quite present.

Paired this along side a beautiful NY strip steak from one of our local farms in nearby Columbia County. We got a beautiful, medium rare, cook in the sous vide bath, then finished with a great, quick sear on the stove top. Delicious, I love cooking with science!

Drinking nicely this evening at ~18 years past vintage. Expect this bottle to hold strong until at least 2028-2032 in proper storage. — 8 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.1

Distinct flavors. Dark black cherry. Chocolate and tobacco. Smell and taste the terroir. — 8 years ago

Zachary Price

9.0

Ah, that Riverbench Pinot Noir....nestled in the Santa Maria Valley, Riverbench specializes in mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The One Palm vintage is made from a single clone, 667, which is typically a blending Pinot for estate cuvées. Per usual, the clone is a finicky one, showing wide variability depending on climate - Too warm? Sugars concentrate and odd flavors emerge, (think apple). Too cold? Tight, spiciness emerges, (think all spice). Riverbench farms the Santa Maria AVA which benefits from an excellent marine influence and a wonderful stewed red cabbage terroir flavor point. Always a favorite of mine - (I did get married there) - and paired with a Chirashi Style rice bowl. Delish! ~$42 | #riverbench #pinotnoir #santamariavalley

On the eyes: Clear, light ruby, quite bright, med stain, med tears, no gas/floc.

On the nose: Stewed cranberry, tart cherry, cedar, slate, hints of braised red cabbage, med alcohol.

On the tongue: med acid, med tannin, med alcohol, med body, smooth. Sharp cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, hint of red cabbage, finishing with clove and star anise. Nice long pleasant finish, benefits from room temperature (began drinking at 60 degrees), and decanting. — 9 years ago

Christanna Honer

9.2

Was pretty unimpressed upon opening, but really came to life in an unexpected way the next day. Fresh leather, spiced cherry, star anise, sweet dirt, cedarwood, truffle, black licorice candy. Rich and long on the palate, with a bit of jamminess- from the Syrah undoubtedly. — 10 years ago

John Willison

9.2

Cloudy color. Raspberry, cranberry, and a bit of smoke on the nose. Tart and ripe cherry, more cranberry, earthy tones, some acidity on the finish. Nice. — 10 years ago

Matthew W.

9.2

Juicy cherry, raspberry, & rubarb fruits, hints of chocolate and cigar box. Balanced finish. The Monticello is the Napa Valley of Virginia. — 10 years ago

Leslee D. Miller

Owner and Certified Sommelier Amusée Wine Consulting

9.0

Finishing the last tasty bits of this 2012 Anthill Farm, Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Dusted cocoa, strwbry, cherry & orange citrus spice, so good. Love my introduction to this lil Pinot gem over a year ago. #certifiablydelish — 11 years ago

Koire Rogers

9.6

Cherry, earthy, some forest floor dankness, cedar. Should be awesome in a few more years. — 11 years ago