RiverBench, 2006 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley (All Wines (alphabetically)) -- SidewaysWineClub.com Shopping Cart -- Valley Maria Santa Noir, Pinot 2006 RiverBench,

<A HREF="http://www.SidewaysWineClub.com" TITLE="SidewaysWineClub.com"><IMG SRC="https://store.nexternal.com/sideways/sideways.jpg" ALT="SidewaysWineClub.com" NAME="SidewaysWineClub.com" BORDER=0></A> <H1>RiverBench, 2006 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley -- SidewaysWineClub.com Shopping Cart</H1> $36.00 -- RiverBench, 2006 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley <IMG SRC="https://store.nexternal.com/sideways/images/06estatepinot1.jpg" WIDTH=150 ALIGN=right ALT="RiverBench, 2006 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley" NAME="RiverBench, 2006 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley" BORDER=0 HSPACE=10> The Wine This wine's rich and heady aromas can be reticent at first, so I recommend decanting this wine for an hour or so before pouring. If you don’t have a decanter, just pour into glasses and don't touch them for an hour. This works just as effectively, so long as you have more willpower than I do. Once the aromas begin to emerge, look for red fruit and vanilla that lead into flavors of strawberries and red bramble berries. The flavors and texture coat the palate and lead into a long finish. It’s a big pinot, with high alcohol balanced by good fruit and body. Alcohol: 15.48% T.A.: .631 g/100 mL pH: 3.84 The History This wine was crafted by Chuck Ortman, a veteran winemaker whose career began in Napa in 1968. That was the year that saw Nixon win his first term, the country tearing itself apart over Vietnam, and respect for California wines was still 8 years away. It was also the year Chuck earned his stripes as a cellar rat for Heitz Cellars. His career quickly progressed, and he began consulting for the likes of Far Niente, Shafer and Cain by the mid-70’s. Such a career would satisfy many a winemaker, but not for Chuck. He moved out of Napa and became an early believer in the potential of California’s Central Coast. He eventually established one of the Central Coast’s most iconic brands – Meridian Vineyard of Paso Robles – which provided him with access to all the area’s best vineyards, including RiverBench, then sold it to return to his roots – consulting for premium boutique wineries. Such as this one. Chuck bought grapes from Riverbench while at Meridian, and though they still sell most of their grapes today, they set aside the best lots for their estate wines. The RiverBench vines qualify as “old vines” by any measure – dating back to 1973 – and are well past their prime for grape yields. But that’s good news for you and me – it means they’re now in their prime years for grape quality. As you’ll see once you pop the cork on this wine. Cheers! 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Gruner (or GV or simply "Gru Vee") is among the fastest-growing white wine varietals, and for good reason! <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com/sideways" TITLE="SidewaysWineClub.com Products">SidewaysWineClub.com Products</A> <A HREF="http://www.SidewaysWineClub.com">wine</A> <A HREF="http://www.SidewaysWineClub.com">pinot noir</A> <A HREF="http://www.SidewaysWineClub.com">rhone wine</A> <A HREF="http://www.SidewaysWineClub.com">wine club</A> <A HREF="http://www.SidewaysWineClub.com">cult wine</A> <A HREF="http://www.SidewaysWineClub.com">sideways wine</A> <A HREF="http://www.SidewaysWineClub.com">sideways the movie</A> SidewaysWineClub.com Online Store powered by Nexternal <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com" TITLE="ecommerce solutions">ecommerce solutions</A>


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