2023 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
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The 2023 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is such a classy, elegant wine, and a great introduction to this range. Far from an easygoing appellation-level bottling, the 2023 possesses notable textural depth and intensity. Lemon confit, steel, mint, chalk and crushed rocks build into a deep, palate-staining finish. This is impressive juice that captures the vintage at Rivers-Marie in a nutshell.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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A bright yellow hue, the 2023 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is expressive on opening with notes of flinty wet stones and white peach. Full-bodied, it floats on the palate and offers ripe purity, with honeycomb, lemon curd, and delicate creaminess. It has a silky, clean texture and a balanced finish, and it’s ready to drink now or over the coming 6-7 years. Owned by Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh and based in Calistoga, Rivers Marie specializes in single varietal, single vineyard expressions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. One of Sonoma's most prolific winemakers and consultants, Thomas Rivers Brown grew up in South Carolina and later went on to work at Turley before carving his own path forward. I met with Thomas and Will Segui, the assistant winemaker, at the Calistoga winery this spring to taste the wines for this report.