2021 Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 21RMSCPN750

Given the abundance of 2021, we were able to make some hard qualitative cuts and still have plenty of wine to satisfy our single vineyard needs.  Whereas the 2019 was exclusively Riddle Vineyard, the 2021 features pieces of Joy Road and Bearwallow and small slivers of Summa and Occidental Ridge.  This returns it more to an insight into the Occidental coast as a whole though it does skew stylistically toward the northeastern corner of that area.  As I’m tasting this, it feels like a wine that will need a few years to fully open which could be a difficult trait for an appellation wine.  We’ve never made this wine to be a lesser wine than the vineyard designates though.  Our approach in the vineyard and winery is the same for all the lots that comprise a vintage.  I think because of this, all the vintages of this bottling taste a bit differently.  The 2021 leads with a medium plus color and a flavor profile featuring pomegranates, ground herbs, plum and black cherry.  Smoke, loamy earth and spring flowers add a savory note to balance the fruit.  There are some chewy tannins on the finish which reminds me of the 2013 and 2016.  As usual there is very little new oak on this wine so the structure here is more fruit tannin than barrel.