13 Mar Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Riverbench 2020 Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Maria

I have been drinking a lot of Pinot Noir of late. Whether from the Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Maria, SLO Coast, Sonoma, Carneros, Oregon, Australia, or Germany, there have been so many delicious wines. But one wine really stood out this week. Not only was it delicious but the price caught my eye, especially for a Pinot Noir. The Riverbench 2020 Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley AVA retails for $34. This delicious deal is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Riverbench

Riverbench was established in 1973 in the Santa Maria Valley. The 300-acre property was originally a dairy ranch and the ranch house that sits on the property (and is home to the tasting room today) was built in the 1920s. Riverbench is located on the Santa Maria Bench, on the bank of the Sisquoc River, and was planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir when Jack Niven purchased the property in 1973. For decades the grapes were sold to various wineries. From the 1980s until the early 2002, the property was under different ownership but in 2005, three local Santa Maria families purchased the property. In 2006 they produced their first wine and in 2008 they opened the tasting room in the old ranch house. Clarissa Nagy has been the winemaker since 2012.

Tasting Notes

The Riverbench 2020 Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Maria is the winery’s flagship wine. It is a combination of clones and barrels to showcase the best qualities of the property. The wine was aged for nine months in Seguin Moreau French oak (30% new). Winemaker Clarissa Nagy selected Seguin Moreau barrels to accentuate the fruit and spice without overwhelming the flavors of the wine. The wine is fresh and bright with juicy red fruit, clove, and spice aromas. This wine is a beautiful expression of the Santa Maria freshness.

Food Pairing

This juicy, easy-drinking Pinot Noir is very food friendly and will pair with classic Pinot-pairings such as duck breast and mushroom dishes.

Where to Purchase:

The Riverbench 2020 Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley AVA retails for $34, which is an amazing deal for a well-made, balanced Pinot Noir.  The wine can be purchased at the winery or on the Riverbench website.