Riverain Silver Eagle Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2019

Laurie and Dean Gray began their Napa story when they bought a beautiful home in Rutherford near the Napa River to be able to welcome friends with whom they could share new experiences and create wonderful memories. Along with their business partner, Steve Nordhoff, they quickly gained an appreciation and working knowledge of what it takes to make consistently great wine. The hook was set as they slipped deeper into the fever of the valley by spending countless hours researching vineyards, subsequently landing impressive fruit contracts with some of the Valley's finest vineyards while also signing Thomas Rivers Brown, a truly gifted craftsman as their winemaker. After all, he is the man many consider to be the “100-Point King,” and the one behind so many phenomenal wines such as Schrader, Caterwaul, Selah, Maybach, Swagger, Revana, Rivers-Marie, Pulido~Walker and the list goes on with many more crowd-pleasing wines that hopefully are safely stocked in your cellar. Finding a word to reflect how their lives have evolved over the past decade led the team to a historical French term: RIVERAIN which means "near the river" and also refers to "friendly locals." 

After a successful inaugural first vintage, the 2019 Silver Eagle “Generations Pinot Noir” builds upon a great foundation laid by the 2018. This wine is a true testament to Thomas’ non-interventionist style that allows the vintage to shine through first and foremost. The mild and even weather in 2019, along with the cool Occidental site, allowed for extended hang time. Picked at a moderate 23.4 Brix on September 19, the vineyard is meticulously farmed, and all of the fruit arrived in perfect condition. Fermentation with 30% whole cluster made for a beautifully perfumed, aromatic Pinot Noir. Offering scents of Christmas spice, cherry, cranberry and some forest floor, the wine’s balance really shines through to a long, detailed finish. More Burgundian than the 2018, this has the ethereal quality we love in Pinot Noir. Riverain is thrilled to be working with the Valdez Family and this historic site for many “Generations" to come. The wine is ready to pair with a great culinary experience today or hold for 6 – 12 years.