Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast - 2024

For years, Rivers-Marie wines were only available through their impossible-to-get-on allocation list. Recently, they opened a new winery in Calistoga and their state-of-the-art Pinots have become slightly easier to get. According to winemakers Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh, “the goal here is zero-to-little new oak, so the structure is more fruit tannin than barrel, with a fresh fruit character that shows site and varietal first. Juicy and concentrated, this bottling drinks incredibly well out of the gate but time has shown it can easily age for fifteen plus years.” Flavor profile features pomegranate, ground herbs, plum, and black cherry. Smoke, loamy earth, and spring flowers add savory notes that balance the fruit. Chewy tannins on a truly luxurious finish. Sublime.