Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines 2012 750mL

Good pure red, brighter than the Sonoma Coast bottling. Musky aromas of red berries, woodsmoke and minerals; more savory than fruity today. Ripe but classically dry in the mouth, with soil-driven flavors of woodsmoke, underbrush and minerals dominating. Plenty of aromatic subtlety here but not a fruity style. The broad finish features dusty tannins that call for a year or so of patience. (13.3% alcohol; from vines planted in 1978)

– Stephen Tanzer