Pinot Noir Joy Road Sonoma Coast

A great wine from a wonderful vineyard. Joy Road Pinot, compared to the others in Rivers-Marie's great line-up, is usually perhaps a little more rustic, i.e. the tannins are not quite as well packed, but probably designed for a long run - the wine is altogether a little finer, a little more elegant. Its aroma is more spicy than fruity and yet there is an abundance of ripe red berries, carried by the spiciness just mentioned, which possibly comes from the panicles, as the grapes were not completely destemmed. This strategy gives the wine an unexpected lightness despite its density and brightens up the aromatic palette, providing additional structure. As mentioned, the wine may initially seem a little rustic, but with air for those in a hurry and bottle ageing for the more patient among us, it develops into a wonderfully balanced wine that is incredibly enjoyable. Ready for a full-bodied Californian Pinot Noir? Yes? Then go for the Joy Road!