2013 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard

Lastly, the 2013 Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard, produced from Dijon cloned 667, 115 and the Pommard clone, sees about 10% whole-clusters. This is the most earthy, stemmy, spicy, terroir-driven Pinot Noir, with notes of tomato leaf as well as broad, spicy notes of sassafras, beet root and red currants. The wine has terrific fruit, a nice breadth of flavor, and a spicy earthiness that’s going to put it in the love-it-or-leave-it category for many Pinot Noir enthusiasts.

The 2013 Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard is the most immediate and juicy of these Rivers-Marie Pinots, which gives it a bit more early accessibility than is found throughout this range. Dark cherries, cola, cloves and hard candy blossom in a voluptuous, racy Pinot built on pure texture. Although Thomas Rivers Brown vinified the Kanzler with 10% whole clusters to give the wine more lightness, this site's tendency to yield round, fruity Pinots comes through just the same.