Thomas Rivers Brown and his wife Genevieve Marie Walsh have quickly made Rivers-Marie one of California’s most sought after Pinot Noir labels. The winery was founded in 2002 and the first release was the Rivers-Marie Summa Vineyard Pinot Noir. In addition to the line up of Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs, Rivers-Marie also makes a few single vineyard Cabernets and Chardonnay. Thomas is in high demand and serves as a consultant for a number of wineries including Schrader and Outpost.
Silver Eagle Vineyard, owned by Ulises Valdez, rests atop Stoetz Ridge, the land mass that divides the remote Sonoma Coast from the Russian River Valley. This vineyard experiences both the cooling ocean breezes of the nearby Pacific, as well as the warmth of the interior valley.
Light red in color. 14.2% ABV. Sensational nose of red fruits, cloves, orange peel and pine needle. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Well balanced. Supreme texture and mouthfeel. Cherries, blood orange, baking spices and minerals on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. What was once a fruit forward Pinot Noir is now complex and elegant. Stunning Pinot Noir that has stood the test of time. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
My rating: 94 points.
Rivers-Marie wines are only available via their mailing list. The 2017 version of this wine will be released early next year. Sign up for the mailing list if you have not done so already
I’ve blogged about Rivers-Marie previously in the 2017 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.