Thomas Rivers Brown and his wife Genevieve Marie Welsh 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 several single vineyard Cabernets and Chardonnay. Thomas is in high demand and serves as a consultant for a number of wineries including Schrader and Outpost.
Sourced from Joy Road and Bearwallow and small slivers of Summa and Occidental Ridge Vineyards.
Ruby red in color. 14.3% ABV. Brooding nose of red fruits, cloves, iron and forest floor. Medium body with strong acidity. Packed with dark, savory fruits. Black cherry, cola, plums and baking spices on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. A little atypical for the Sonoma Coast bottling but well made and easy to drink. Best over the next 3-4 years.
My rating: 91 points.
The 2023 version will be released early next year to members of the mailing list.
I have been on the Rivers-Marie mailing list for well over 15 years. For me the Pinot Noir was always the main attraction here but the Cabernet and Chardonnay programs are really second to none when you factor in price and quality. Rivers-Marie wines are only available via their mailing list. Sign up for the mailing list if you have not done so already.
I’ve blogged about Rivers-Marie recently in A Visit to Rivers-Marie.