2023 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard
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The 2023 Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard is one of the most potent, tightly wound wines in this range. Brisk acids and beams of mineral-driven intensity shape this taut, vibrant young Chardonnay. In the glass, the 2023 is ethereal and understated, and yet it possesses remarkable depth from start to finish. All the elements are so well balanced. Give this a few years in bottle.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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From west of the town of Occidental, the 2023 Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard is a bright yellow hue and boasts a refined profile, with notes of lime cordial, salty earth, white peaches, and cherry blossoms. The palate is medium to full-bodied, and it has a fantastic refreshing and salty mineral persistence. It’s beautifully detailed, elegant, and linear. Drink 2026-2038. 70 cases were produced. 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.