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All Wines from Rivers Marie
Inventory updated: Sat, Feb 21, 2026 12:48 PM cst
Our vintages of Rivers Marie wine currently include: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023
Flickinger Fine Wines' inventory of Rivers Marie wine is listed below. We have an excellent and vast assortment of fine wines to choose from. If you do not see what you are looking for, give us a call and we can suggest another Rivers Marie vintage or even another producer that we are sure you will enjoy.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Rivers Marie |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
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2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
6 |
|
| |
|
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2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
6 |
|
| |
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2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon  |
$89 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a gorgeous, rich wine layered with mint, tobacco, spices, cedar and licorice. It shows gorgeous textural depth and tons of aromatic nuances. This is a fabulous wine loaded with class and personality. It isn’t the biggest wine here, but it is exceptionally polished. Wow! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. |
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2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2012): The estate’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. Juicy dark berries, flowers, mint and cloves all come together nicely in the glass. Today, the 2010 is open and expressive, with soft, silky tannins and tons of near-term appeal, all qualities entry-level Cabernets should have. The 2010 is mostly valley floor fruit, with dollops of Panek, Corona and GIII. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. |
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2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2014): Rivers-Marie's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon brings together the richness of the year along with pretty savory notes that balance some of the more overt fruit. Iron, smoke, cedar and dried red cherries are all laced into the super-expressive finish. This is one of very best Napa Valley Cabernets in its price range. The 2012 was made from three sites; Pellet (Calistoga) and Bourn and Bressler, both in St. Helena. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is plump, juicy and expressive. Sweet and open-knit in style, the 2013 is best enjoyed young, while the fruit retains its vibrancy. Sweet red cherry, plum and pomegranate add a final burst of energy on the close. (Drink between 2017-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (12/2017): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga has a very deep purple-black color and opens with absolutely seducing crushed black cherries, blueberries and black raspberry aromas plus underlying violets, rose hip tea, spice box, powdered cinnamon and dusty earth notes. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly knit, revealing great tension and depth with the firm, fine-grained frame, finishing long and refreshing. 204 cases were made.
JD 97 (12/2017): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga always comes from the Larkmead vineyard just north of Calistoga. Aged 20 months in 80% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a sweet bouquet of cassis, blackberry jam, liquid violets, and brambly spice. Pure, opulent, and incredibly sexy, it stays elegant and graceful on the palate with awesome purity of fruit. Drink it anytime over the coming 2+ decades.
VM 93 (3/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a gorgeous entry-level wine. Pliant and supple, the 2015 offers considerable near and medium term appeal. Mocha, espresso and plum flesh out in this ample, juicy Cabernet from Rivers-Marie. This is a fabulous appellation-level wine. Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
2 |
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| |
VM 94 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is an outrageously beautiful wine. Readers who aren't able to find the vineyard designates won't be giving up in indulging in this hedonistic, voluptuous Cabernet from proprietors Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh. Layers of blackberry jam, chocolate, cloves and licorice build as this sumptuous Cabernet shows off its curves. The 2018 is not exactly subtle, but it sure is gorgeous. I loved it. (Drink between 2022-2033). Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (1/2021): Looking at the bottled wines, the base 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon sports a deep purple hue as well as a great nose of spiced red and black fruits, graphite, classy oak, chocolate, and cedar. It's rich, full-bodied, up-front, and ready to go, with just an incredibly satisfying, balanced, delicious style that's going to keep for 10-12 years, if not longer. (Drink between 2021-2035). |
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2012 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
4 |
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WA 96 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga is a killer effort. Sweet blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry fruit along with notes of vanilla, toast, licorice, incense and spice box emerge from this full-bodied, classic Napa Cabernet. With good acidity, ripe tannin and a broad, savory, multidimensional mouthfeel, this fabulous wine represents 200 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 75% new oak. The finished alcohol is 14.3%. It should drink well for 15-20 years.
VM 93 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga emerges from a single block in what is widely considered the best part of the Larkmead estate. Dark black fruit, graphite, game, smoke and pencil shavings wrap around a core of dark fruit in a powerful, explosive Cabernet built on intensity and inner sweetness, although time in the glass brings out the wine's more seductive qualities. This broad, ample Cabernet Sauvignon should drink beautifully for a number of years. This is a strong debut vintage for the Calistoga Cabernet. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga, which comes from the so-called Olmo clone (the same as the Eiesle clone), exhibits an opaque purple color, sweet creme de cassis and blackberry fruit as well as licorice, wet pebbles giving it minerality, and a long, full-bodied, opulent texture. This stunning wine comes from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.
VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga emerges from the most historic portion of Larkmead, where the Olmo clone (said to be the precursor to Eisele clone) and pure Cortina soils yield wines of tremendous pedigree. That is exactly what comes through here. Dense and powerful, with distinctly earthy, savory notes, the 2013 delivers serious intensity and explosiveness. Readers will have to be patient, however, as the 2013 needs time to be at its best. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (10/2016): The Cabernets start with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. This is fabulous – 100% Olmo clone that is the same as the Eisele clone. Opaque purple, this wine was aged 20 months in a relatively small percentage of new oak. Blackberry, cassis, spring flowers and vanilla all jump from the glass of this fabulous, concentrated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense, pure and terrific. Alcohol levels are relatively modest at 14.3%. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 92 (12/2016): A dark, brooding wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga captures the personality of this site nicely. Smoke, scorched earth, tar, licorice and plum give the wine much of its dark, imposing personality. This is an especially virile wine, but Thomas Brown has done a very good job in softening some of the contours. The Calistoga Cabernet emerges from one of the choicest parcels at Larkmead. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
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| VM 92 (3/2018): Super-ripe red cherry, plum, mint and pomegranate rush onto the palate in the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga). Even with all its ripeness, the 2015 has quite a bit of depth and textural resonance, not to mention tons of personality. The Calistoga Cabernet emerges from one of the choicest areas in Larkmead. My only hesitation at the moment with the 2015 is the tannins, which are a bit grainy and suggest that ripening was not totally even. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga) is driving and intense, with savory, earthy notes that give the wine its distinctive personality. This powerful Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon possesses tremendous depth and muscle, both signatures of Larkmead, one of the top vineyard sites in Calistoga, and Napa Valley, for that matter. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (2/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga is deep garnet-purple colored, charging out of the gate with savory notions of sautéed herbs, beef drippings and truffles with a core of crème de cassis , baked plums and mulberries. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid backbone of firm, velvety tannins and really compelling earthy undertones to all that decadent black fruit, finishing long and layered. |
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2009 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$90 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Roberto Corona Vineyard, from a site on the Oakville bench, is the richest of these 2009 Cabernets from Rivers-Marie. It bursts from the glass with jammy, opulent fruit and a big, full-bodied personality. Blue and black fruit, mint, licorice and sweet spices wrap around the finish. The 100% new oak comes through here. I am not sure this wine needs all the oak and makeup. There is plenty of pedigree already. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. |
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2010 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2012): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Roberto Corona Vineyard has come together beautifully since I last tasted it. A rich sumptuous wine, the 2010 caresses the palate with layers of dark fruit, spices, menthol and licorice. The dark fruit and intense spices are pure Oakville. The French oak, which was quite noticeable last year, has integrated beautifully. The Corona is totally different than the Panek, but just as beautiful. In 2010 I have a slight preference for the Corona over the Panek, but both are striking and absolutely delicious. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. |
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2012 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2014): The opaque purple-hued 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Crona Vineyard, from gravelly, stony soils in the western Oakville hills, is the most intense, massive, structured and tannic wine of this group of 2012s. Aged in 75% new oak (250 cases produced), it offers up notes of licorice, graphite, vanillin, baking spices, blueberries and blackberries along with stupendous extract, richness and structure. Drink it over the next 20+ years. |
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2013 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$115 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard has also turned out beautifully, which is indeed saying something, as Corona is a site that does not perform consistently from year to year. Dark cherry jam, graphite, blueberry compote, tobacco and sweet French oak blossom in a powerful, radiant Cabernet endowed with real breadth and volume. I suspect the Corona will drink well earlier than some of the other wines in this range, specifically the Calistoga and Lore Cabernets. This is one of the very best Coronas I can remember tasting at Rivers-Marie. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (10/2015): Coming from a steep hillside vineyard in the western Oakville hills, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard is a backward, almost first-growth Pauillac style of wine, with notes of lead pencil, licorice, wet stones, cedar wood and fruitcake. Fine-grained tannins are significant, giving the wine considerable grip and earthiness. This is a big, backstrapping, broodingly primordial style of wine that clearly will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. |
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2014 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96+ (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard comes from the western Oakville hillside that was once an old gravel quarry. Blue/purple with notes of earth, crushed rock, blueberry and blackberry fruit, this is a relatively tannic, backward style compared to the other Cabernets with plenty of minerality, a muscular structure, full-bodied mouthfeel and loads of blue, red and black fruits. This is impressive and potentially fabulous with a great upside, but needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for up to 30 years. |
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2011 |
Gioia Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (7/2013): The 2011 Pinot Noir Gioia Vineyard is one of the more immediate wines in the range. It has some of the brambly qualities found in the Summa, but with more fruit, the result of the warmer micro climate in this parcel. Today my impression is that the 2011 is best enjoyed sooner rather than later, as the fruit will likely start dropping out after a few years, but it is quite pretty today. Licorice, savory herbs, mint and anise are some of the aromas and flavor that add complexity on the finish. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Herb Lamb Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2018): Time has been kind to the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb, a wine that is positively stellar today. Dark and explosive, with tremendous energy, the 2016 has so much to offer. Beams of tannin give the 2016 a backbone of energy and structure that will allow it to develop nicely in bottle for many years to come. Thomas Brown and his team crafted a striking wine that captures the essence of one of the most singular sites in Napa Valley. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Herb Lamb Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
3 |
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JD 99 (1/2021): Lastly, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is a true superstar in the vintage and reminds me of a great vintage of Château Margaux with its exotic bouquet of blue fruits, sandalwood, spring flowers, menthol, and lead pencil shavings. These all carry to a powerful, full-bodied 2018 with a weightless texture, building tannins, flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. It's not a wine that hits you over the head with fruit, but it builds incrementally on the palate and has perfect balance as well as the class and depth to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 25-30 years. (Drink between 2025-2056)
VM 98 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is distinguished in this range by its strong aromatic signatures. Blood orange, sage, mint, licorice, pine and raspberry jam are all beautifully lifted. In the glass, the Herb Lamb is powerful and deep, yet also a bit reticent today. I would give it a few years to soften. There is so much going on here. Herb Lamb is a complex site divided into three macro areas. Sadly, much, if not all, of the property was lost in the 2020 fires. (Drink between 2024-2035). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (2/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored, offering up gregarious scents of black cherry pie, warm cassis, garrigue and kirsch with emerging hints of blackberries, wild blueberries and roses. Full-bodied, concentrated and wonderfully muscular in the mouth, it has great tension and firm, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and earthy. |
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2019 |
Herb Lamb Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
2 |
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| JD 99 (12/2021): The Herb Lamb Vineyard was lost in the fires of 2020, so this will be the last vintage of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard. As with the Oakville Terraces release, it's a borderline perfect wine that has a captivating bouquet of cassis, blackberries, charcoal, lead pencil shavings, and even a hint of menthol. With full-bodied richness and depth, a concentrated, structured, yet seamless mouthfeel, and one great finish, it's another incredible wine from the team at Rivers-Marie. As with most 2019s, it has up-front appeal, yet my money is on a solid two decades of development. |
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2023 |
Joy Road Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (1/2025): The 2023 Pinot Noir Joy Road Vineyard is classy, elegant and polished. Silky tannins envelop a core of dark blue/purplish fruit, new leather, licorice and spice. Medium in body, yet fleshy and quite deep, the 2023 is a rockstar all the way. (Drink between 2027-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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2012 |
Kanzler Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
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| VM 92 (2/2014): One of the more overt, fruit-driven wines in the range, the 2012 Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard offers lively immediacy. This is the one site in the Rivers-Marie range that is in the Russian River, so the style here is quite jammy and also very different from the other wines in the lineup. Hard candy, black cherries, cloves and menthol inform the juicy, extroverted finish. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
3 |
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WA 97+ (10/2015): Another killer effort from Rivers-Marie is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard, from a steep and rocky single vineyard in the Vaca foothills of eastern Napa above the Rudd Winery. The wine comes across with fabulous intensity and loads of blackberry, blueberry and cassis fruit, licorice, camphor and incense. This is great stuff, backward, as all of these 2013s tend to be. It’s the smallest of these cuvees, with about 250 cases, or ten barrels produced. This wine is another one to benefit from 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades or more.
VM 97 (10/2015): The undisputed crown jewel in this lineup, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is every bit as fabulous in bottle as it was from barrel. Here the impression is of explosive energy and pure verticality. A rush of dark red and black fruit, melted road tar, cloves, licorice and leather punctuates the explosive, creamy finish. All the magic of eastern Oakville comes through in spades. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
1 |
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WA 96+ (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is another magnificent wine from the Oakville corridor on the hills near Dalla Valle and the Pedregral Vineyard of David Ramey. Wonderful notes of fruitcake, cedar wood, spice box, blackcurrant and blackberry along with espresso and spice jump from the glass of this terrific wine that is powerful, concentrated and multidimensional, but still somewhat youthful and backward. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25-30 years.
VM 94 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is the deepest and most explosive of these 2014s. Vivid and chiseled in the glass, the 2014 exudes energy, with tons of intensely mineral and savory overtones. Rose petal, lavender, mint and sage all flesh out nicely in the glass. This collection of small parcels on the eastern hillsides of Oakville often yields wines of notable distinction. That is once again the case in 2014. This is a special wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
3 |
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| WA 98 (12/2017): Deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard has a wonderfully expressive, savory nose of char-grilled meat, truffles, sauteed herbs and Bovril with a core of crème de cassis, blackberry tart, menthol, mocha and pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the palate simply sings with intense black fruits accented with loads of savory layers, framed by grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing with epic length. 232 cases produced. |
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2016 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
3 |
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| VM 97+ (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is sensational. Dark, powerful and explosive, the 2016 expresses all the best this rugged hillside site has to offer. Graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice, smoke and dark spice explode from the glass. In most vintages, the Lore is massively tannic, but the 2016 has tremendous purity of fruit and exceptional balance. It is one of the best – maybe the best – Rivers-Marie Cabernet I have ever tasted. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$213 |
3 |
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| VM 97+ (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is sensational. Dark, powerful and explosive, the 2016 expresses all the best this rugged hillside site has to offer. Graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice, smoke and dark spice explode from the glass. In most vintages, the Lore is massively tannic, but the 2016 has tremendous purity of fruit and exceptional balance. It is one of the best – maybe the best – Rivers-Marie Cabernet I have ever tasted. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
3 |
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WA 98 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon coming from a single vineyard in Oakville. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a fair bit of swirling to reveal tantalizing scents of boysenberries, chocolate-covered cherries and crushed black and red currants with hints of menthol, tobacco leaf, violets, cinnamon stick and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with perfumed black fruits, backed up by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Just stunning. Give it a good 4-5 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20 years+.
JD 97+ (1/2021): From a great site in Oakville, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard boasts a rich, full-bodied style offering ripe, polished tannins, terrific balance, and textbook Cabernet notes of ripe black currants, cassis, smoked tobacco, loamy soil, and chocolate. I love its overall purity as well as its balance, and while it's already accessible today, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 20 years in cold cellars. (Drink between 2023-2045).
VM 97+ (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is magnificent. Strong savory and mineral notes add aromatic complexity to play off the dense, plush fruit that is typical of these wines. Intriguing and complex, the Lore captures all of the magic of this site in Eastern Oakville. The tannins need a bit of time to soften. Even in the early going, the Lore is superb. It is, as always, the most structured Cabernet in the range. (Drink between 2025-2033). Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
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WA 97 (10/2016): The Cabernets start with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. This is fabulous – 100% Olmo clone that is the same as the Eisele clone. Opaque purple, this wine was aged 20 months in a relatively small percentage of new oak. Blackberry, cassis, spring flowers and vanilla all jump from the glass of this fabulous, concentrated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense, pure and terrific. Alcohol levels are relatively modest at 14.3%. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 91 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, rich and intense, all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, plum fruit, and chocolate flavors are pushed forward. The soft, polished tannins give this fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon tons of near and medium term appeal. (Drink between 2017-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Wrinkled Label |
$99 |
1 |
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WA 97 (10/2016): The Cabernets start with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. This is fabulous – 100% Olmo clone that is the same as the Eisele clone. Opaque purple, this wine was aged 20 months in a relatively small percentage of new oak. Blackberry, cassis, spring flowers and vanilla all jump from the glass of this fabulous, concentrated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense, pure and terrific. Alcohol levels are relatively modest at 14.3%. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 91 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, rich and intense, all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, plum fruit, and chocolate flavors are pushed forward. The soft, polished tannins give this fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon tons of near and medium term appeal. (Drink between 2017-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Oakville Terraces Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
2 |
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WA 99 (9/2022): From the vineyard formerly known as Lore, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Terraces comes from the same two-acre parcel, located on the eastern side of Oakville, in the hills just below Dalla Valle. There are 230 cases of this elixir, which may be a candidate for a perfect score down the road. For now, it shows gorgeous notes of licorice, black cherries and exotic florals on the nose and follows those up with a full-bodied palate that's concentrated and rich without ever seeming heavy or overdone, and the softly dusty finish lingers nearly forever. The combination of lovely fruit, great structure and tremendous length is close to perfect.
JD 99 (12/2021): Coming from a site at the base of Dalla Valle (which was previously known as the Lore Vineyard), the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Terraces offers a huge nose of ripe blue and black fruits as well as notes of iron, tobacco, roasted rosemary, and tapenade-like nuances. A big, lush, full-bodied effort, it has lots of tannins, a stacked mid-palate, perfect balance, and a finish that has you looking where to buy more bottles. This straight-up heavenly Cabernet will shine for 20+ years. (Drink between 2021-2042).
VM 98 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Terraces is phenomenally great. Thomas Brown and his team have succeeded in taming some of the fierce tannins that often characterize wines from this site. Deep and powerful, with stunning balance, the 2019 is simply off the charts. The flavors are rich and incisive, and yet there is plenty of freshness to keep things in check. In a word: magnificent. Readers should note Oakville Terraces was formerly known as Lore Vineyard. (Drink between 2025-2039). Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Oakville Terraces Cabernet Sauvignon |
$235 |
2 |
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WA 99 (9/2022): From the vineyard formerly known as Lore, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Terraces comes from the same two-acre parcel, located on the eastern side of Oakville, in the hills just below Dalla Valle. There are 230 cases of this elixir, which may be a candidate for a perfect score down the road. For now, it shows gorgeous notes of licorice, black cherries and exotic florals on the nose and follows those up with a full-bodied palate that's concentrated and rich without ever seeming heavy or overdone, and the softly dusty finish lingers nearly forever. The combination of lovely fruit, great structure and tremendous length is close to perfect.
JD 99 (12/2021): Coming from a site at the base of Dalla Valle (which was previously known as the Lore Vineyard), the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Terraces offers a huge nose of ripe blue and black fruits as well as notes of iron, tobacco, roasted rosemary, and tapenade-like nuances. A big, lush, full-bodied effort, it has lots of tannins, a stacked mid-palate, perfect balance, and a finish that has you looking where to buy more bottles. This straight-up heavenly Cabernet will shine for 20+ years. (Drink between 2021-2042).
VM 98 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Terraces is phenomenally great. Thomas Brown and his team have succeeded in taming some of the fierce tannins that often characterize wines from this site. Deep and powerful, with stunning balance, the 2019 is simply off the charts. The flavors are rich and incisive, and yet there is plenty of freshness to keep things in check. In a word: magnificent. Readers should note Oakville Terraces was formerly known as Lore Vineyard. (Drink between 2025-2039). Antonio Galloni. |
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2006 |
Occidental Ridge Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
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VM 90+ (6/2008): Bright deep red, the darkest of these three pinots. Enticing aromas of raspberry, mocha and earthy underbrush. A bit more firm and less pliant than the Sonoma Coast bottling, but with more intensity to the raspberry and spice flavors. This boasts excellent acidity and the highest alcohol (14.3%) of this trio of pinots. Not surprisingly, it's tightly wound today; more vertical while the Summa is more horizontal.
BH 90 (10/2008): A really pretty set up of moderately deeply pitched red and dark berry fruit aromas that carry a whiff of underlying earth precedes round and relatively forward middle weight flavors that possess good if not exceptional depth plus a very subtle hint of minerality and fine length. While this will certainly age, it is already accessible and with the right foods, could easily be enjoyed now. |
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2011 |
Occidental Ridge Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$59 |
1 |
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| WA 91 (4/2013): Black cherries, plums, spices and new leather all come to life in the 2011 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated, the 2011 impresses for its nuance. The 2011 is a bit lighter than most recent vintages, but at the same time, the wine retains a buoyancy and vibrancy that is hugely appealing. Saline notes support the bright finish. This is a gorgeous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. |
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2009 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
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| WA 95 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is graced with exquisite finesse and silkiness in its red fruit and sweet tannin. Layers of seamless fruit caress the palate in this stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 Panek is subtle, understated and totally classy. The Panek is clone 6 and 7 Cabernet, aged in 80% new barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. |
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2010 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
4 |
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| WA 93 (12/2012): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard bursts from the glass with juicy dark red fruit. Supple, silky and easygoing, the 2010 nevertheless possesses plenty of underlying acidity and structure. Hints of cinnamon, cloves and dried flowers add lift on the dense, intense finish. The 2010 is ripe, juicy and totally irresistible. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2025. |
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2013 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
6 |
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WA 98+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard comes from a five-acre, valley-floor vineyard just north of St. Helena near Vineyard 29's Aida. There are 450 cases of this magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of Mediterranean herbs intermixed with licorice, blackberry and cassis jump from the glass of this opaque purple wine. Stunningly proportioned, full-bodied, super-intense, with great purity, structure and depth, this wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for three decades.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, from a site on the valley floor, shows all the voluptuousness and raciness that is typical of this sector in the northern reaches of St. Helena. Dark red cherry, plum, pomegranate and spice blossom as this full-bodied, racy Cabernet shows off its personality. There is just enough acidity to give the aromatics enough lift to balance the super-ripe fruit. As always, the Panek is a very showy wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
2 |
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JD 98 (12/2017): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is another sensational wine that marries serious richness and intensity with incredible symmetry, purity, and elegance. From a valley floor site north of St. Helena brought up in 75% new French oak, it offers an awesome bouquet of crème de cassis, blueberries, crushed flowers, violets, toasty oak and incense that develops and changes with time in the glass. Possessing perfectly ripe tannin, full-bodied richness, the sexy, frontend loaded charm of the vintage, and no hard edges, this sensational Cabernet Sauvignon could come from nowhere else than Napa Valley. Drink it anytime over the coming 20 years. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown has hit a home run with latest releases from his Rivers Marie label, which is a collaboration with Genevieve Marie Welsh started in 2002. These are big, rich, concentrated wines, yet like everything Brown is involved with, the wines are pure, perfectly balanced, and have a seamless texture that can be hard to describe. And as Napa Valley wines goes, these remain reasonably priced and should be snatched up by readers. (Drink between 2018-2038).
WA 98 (10/2016): Thomas Rivers Brown does a fabulous job with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, which is not that far from Vineyard 29's Aida on the valley floor just to the south of Larkmeade, north of St. Helena and the Culinary Institute of America. This is another sensational effort that flirts with perfection. Seventy-five percent new French oak was utilized for 20 months of aging, before the wine was bottle unfined and unfiltered. Opaque purple with notes of blueberry, black raspberry, incense, camphor and forest floor, the wine has an fabulous richness on the palate, a front-end-loaded appeal, but then carries through in the midpalate and finish with light tannin and good acidity. This is a sensational, sexy, up-front Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 20 years while waiting for the 2013 to hit its peak.
VM 93 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is one of the most expressive wines in this range. The personality of this warm St. Helena site marries nicely with the Rivers-Marie style. Opulent, ripe and seductive, the Panek hits all the right notes. The flashy, opulent style offers tons of near and medium term appeal. Dark stone fruit, chocolate, spice, mocha and leather add juiciness to this immediate, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. (Drink between 2017-2029). Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
3 |
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| WA 96 (12/2017): Deep purple-black, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard gives up compelling notes of fenugreek, turmeric and cumin seed over a core of blackberry compote, chocolate-covered cherries and smoked meat plus a touch of scorched earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features layers of vibrant black fruit plus earth and exotic spice accents, supported by fine tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. 300 cases produced. |
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2016 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$135 |
2 |
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| VM 95 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard has turned out beautifully. There is a sense of energy to the red cherry and plum fruit that gives this wine a natural measure of pure excitement. Red cherry jam, raspberry preserves, mint, spice and pomegranate meld together in a racy, sensual Cabernet that captures all the best vintage has to offer. Two thousand sixteen is a terrific vintage for the Panek. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
2 |
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JD 98 (1/2021): Dense purple, with a blockbuster styled nose of jammy blueberries, currants, smoke tobacco, violets, and candied orange zest, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is full-bodied and has a wealth of material, with ripe, silky tannins and the vintage’s more focused, inward, almost backward style. Nevertheless, this is brilliant stuff that needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will evolve for 30+ years. (Drink between 2025-2058)
VM 97 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard dazzles from start to finish. Silky, plush tannins wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit as this opulent, full-throttle Cabernet opens in the glass. The Panek is a very typical Cabernet for this northern sector of St. Helena where the wines are plush and racy. All the elements come together so effortlessly. Bright acids and sweet floral overtones lift the finish. Best of all, the 2018 will be ready to deliver maximum pleasure pretty much upon release. This is the first year in which Rivers-Marie had access to all the fruit. I suspect being able to choose the best blocks explains much of the elevated quality here. In a word: stunning. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (2/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color, offering expressive notes of fresh, ripe red and black currants, juicy plums and Black Forest cake with hints of tilled soil, underbrush, black olives and tar plus a waft of bay leaves. The palate is medium to full-bodied and built like a brick house, featuring very firm, finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing with long-lingering earthy/savory nuances. |
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2019 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
2 |
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| JD 97 (12/2021): Also dark, concentrated, and dense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard boasts a saturated purple hue to go with lots of smoky black and blue fruits, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, chocolate and lead pencil, full-bodied richness, and a round, lush, seamless style on the palate. It's another killer wine from this team that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. |
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2019 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
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| JD 97 (12/2021): Also dark, concentrated, and dense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard boasts a saturated purple hue to go with lots of smoky black and blue fruits, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, chocolate and lead pencil, full-bodied richness, and a round, lush, seamless style on the palate. It's another killer wine from this team that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. |
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2011 |
Silver Eagle Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$65 |
1 |
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2006 |
Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
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| BH 92 (10/2008): A wonderfully complex nose is highly expressive, offering notes of black cherry and spiced raspberry that lead to equally complex middle weight flavors that possess good detail and a lovely layering effect on the solidly persistent finish. This is not especially dense in the manner of the 2004 and 2005 versions though the extract confers the sense of concentration on the delicious backend. A study in balance and grace. |
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2012 |
Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir |
$119 |
3 |
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| VM 90+ (6/2014): (13.3% alcohol; from vines planted in 1978): Good pure red, brighter than the Sonoma Coast bottling. Musky aromas of red berries, woodsmoke and minerals; more savory than fruity today. Ripe but classically dry in the mouth, with soil-driven flavors of woodsmoke, underbrush and minerals dominating. Plenty of aromatic subtlety here but not a fruity style. The broad finish features dusty tannins that call for a year or so of patience. |
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2005 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
4 |
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| BH 91 (10/2007): Here the nose is, not surprisingly, quite similar to that of the Old Vines Summa if perhaps not quite as complex and nuanced that leads to balanced, intense and pure flavors brimming with dry extract and excellent length on the youthfully austere finish. This is quite impressive as well and like the Occidental, it should age well. Drink 2011+. |
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2006 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
2 |
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BH 91 (10/2008): An admirably fresh and beautifully complex nose features spicy deep red cherry and ripe red pinot fruit aromas that complement perfectly the rich, mouth coating and balanced medium weight flavors that benefit from fine levels of dry extract and solid length. While the alcohol is the same as the Willow Creek, there is no undue warmth either. Lovely and absolutely worth a look at this understated, stylish and classy offering. Drink 2010+.
VM 91 (6/2008): Pungent aromas of wild berries, herbs, underbrush and smoke lifted by an enticing lavender perfume. Less fruity but more minerally and bright than the basic bottling, offering a rather silky texture and some attractive high-toned notes of perfumed red fruits. I like this pinot's restrained sweetness and its classically dry finish. Owner/winemaker Thomas Brown told me that the tiny quantities of fruit he had to work with in 2005 were difficult to manage, and that the 2006s were easier to make. Still, yields in the latter year were in the modest 1 to 2.5 tons-per-acre range. |
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2011 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$59 |
1 |
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VM 89 (6/2013): (just 12.4% alcohol; from a tiny crop level and a late harvest): Dullish red. Aromas of strawberry, brown spices and earth. Sweet, supple and rather glyceral, but with strong acidity running through the red berry and earth flavors. Finishes with a saline quality. Good smooth pinot but a bit diffuse and in need of more definition and cut. There's just this one bottling of the Summa pinot in 2011 due to the very low yield. Incidentally, Brown and his wife Genevieve Marie Welsh purchased this vineyard in 2010.
WA 88 (4/2013): The 2011 Pinot Noir Summa Vineyard emerges from the glass with autumn leaves, tobacco, dried cherries and savory herbs. Although made from fully de-stemmed fruit, the 2011 has a stemmy character in its aromas and flavors. High-toned floral and herbs notes add lift on the finish. Sadly, there is no Summa Old Vines in 2011. The best fruit went into this, the straight Sonoma bottling. Today, the 2011 comes across as a bit fragile, so it is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016. |
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2023 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$95 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (1/2025): The 2023 Pinot Noir Summa Vineyard is one of the more overtly structured wines in the range. Brisk acids and beams of supporting tannin give the 2023 a decidedly old-school feel that is quite attractive. Readers who find the Rivers-Marie Pinots on the fruitier side will find a wine of notable restraint and energy here. (Drink between 2027-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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2006 |
Willow Creek Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
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| BH 91 (10/2008): A lovely and nicely deep nose of raspberry, red cherry and touches of both spice and earth lead to round and silky flavors that offer fine intensity and a naturally sweet finish that displays just a bit of backend warmth. It's not enough to upset the balance but neither is it invisible. Overall, I like the sappy and seductive texture and this should age well over the medium term yet drink well early. In a word, lovely. Drink 2011+. |
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| | USA White |
| Rivers Marie |
2013 |
B. Thieriot Vyd. Chardonnay |
$69 |
2 |
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WA 98 (10/2015): One of the greatest young Chardonnays I’ve ever tasted certainly has to be the 2013 Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard, from the very old vineyard planted in 1990 with the Robert Young clone of Chardonnay. It was cropped at 1.5 tons of fruit per acre and aged in Louis Latour cooperage. This amazing wine shows notes of poached pear, honeysuckle and hints of white peach and pineapple, is stunningly rich and full-bodied, but has great acidity and a remarkable finish pH of 3.1, which is incredible, given the intensity and power of this Chardonnay. Look for it to age well for up to a decade or more.
VM 95 (1/2015): The 2013 Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard is one of the most exotic, tropical Chardonnays I have tasted from Rivers-Marie. Rich, ample and voluptuous in the glass, the 2013 possesses remarkable breadth and intensity. Orange peel, crème brulee, smoke and mango meld together in a Sonoma Coast Chardonnay with a distinct Chassagne-like sense of oiliness. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Joy Road Vyd. Chardonnay |
$55 |
2 |
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| VM 93 (1/2015): Slate, graphite, dried pear, almonds, crushed flowers and sage emerge from the 2013 Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard. The flavor profile is quite a bit more floral and savory than the other Chardonnays in the range, with the fruit pushed a bit into the background. The Joy Road is the most subtle and layered of the Rivers-Marie Chardonnays. In many ways, it is the most evocative as well. Antonio Galloni. |
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