2023 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Thieriot Vineyard
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The 2023 Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard is another superb wine in this range from Rivers-Marie. Bright and sculpted, the 2023 dazzles from start to finish. In most vintages, the Thieriot can be a bit austere. The 2023 has plenty of that energy, but unlike some other vintages, it possesses notable mid-palate textural presence.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com
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The 2023 Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard has a similar bright yellow hue and is laser-focused and tension-packed. It’s the most electric and bright of the range, with medium to full-bodied richness. I anticipate that it will flesh out some, but don’t expect its electric energy to tone down. It offers notes of lime zest, saline, green apples, and crushed stones, as well as a long, mouthwatering finish. It’s fantastic and one of my favorites of these Chardonnays from Rivers Marie. 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.