Winemaker Notes
A more red-fruited and vibrant showing than past Rice-Spivak’s, with a crystal-clear nose of crunchy, bright pomegranates and cherries. The more powerful nature of this site comes through on the palate, while retaining purity and weightlessness. A midpoint between the weightlessness of Emmaline Ann and the power of Coastlands.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Pinot Noir Rice Spivak Vineyard was made with about 40% whole clusters and matured for 22 months in 40% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and pure aromas of cranberries, raspberries and rhubarb—those dark red fruit characteristics of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir in the 2019 vintage—plus accents of orange peel, Angostura bitters, moss and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate manages a slender frame and very intense flavors, supported by an abundance of silty tannins and juicy acidity driving the very long, very layered finish.
Rating: 97+
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.