We had the good fortune to taste a few current releases at Rivers Marie winery today. Will was great source of info and I appreciate his friendly manner and hospitality. This is really a beautiful building. That view is not a painting. It was a busy day with bins arriving and sorting going on. Glad my kids got to see a working operation.
We sampled:
2011 Rivers Marie Chardonnay Thierot.
I always love this wine, first time with the 2011. Pretty light petro nose which can be interesting as this shows. Soft mouthful, perfect spot at 10 years young. Thomas always has a way with this one.
2019 Rivers Marie Pinot Noir Summa, which I really enjoyed, much more than the old vine version last evening at dinner. Pure and focused. Dark strawberries with a bit of exotic spice. I will add back onto my buy list when I get home.
2017 Aston Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast- never been a fan of the bigger structure Pinot from this label.
2019 Rivers Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Panel Vineyard. One of my perennial favorites and have loved them back to 2009. Red fruit with a bit of interesting sweet cherry. Nice.
2019 Rivers Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb. Mouth coating with dark black fruits and tremendous potential. Sad, but the last before fire took the vineyard. Deeply layered with intensity and structure youâd expect from Mountain fruit. Sad end of an era.
2019 William & Mary Cabernet Sauvignon Schifflett Ranch. Cool blue fruits with great `liftâ. I donât know why I did not pay attention before. Wonât happen again. Elegant with great balance. Loved it.
Thanks to Thomas for allowing us to taste on what was a busy day at the sorting table. Thanks to Will for talking the time for us.
I own the 2015 Rivers Marie Chardonnay Thierot. Any opinions on this vintage?
I opened a 2018 William & Mary Proprietary Red Shifflett Ranch in May. I just had to see what all the fuss was about. Delicious. I can only imagine what some age will do to this wine. My first vintage was 2017.
Nice notes Mike, that looks like a really fun tastingâŚ
I have been buying the William & Mary Cab and Proprietary Red every year since the 2014 vintage. I love these wines, they have very high quality fruit, and are so balanced and pure. I like your description of âliftâ. I went big on the 2018 vintage, I guess I will have to do the same with the 2019!
Iâve visited RM once back at the Mending Wall site and loved it. The wines are fantastic and the hospitality is every bit as good. The new tasting room looks great.
We as a group preferred the Cemetry as it was plush and drinking better young. I could see the HL becoming my favorite of the group with a few years in the cellar.
Thanks for the feedback on Cemetery, I am wondering if I should pick some up. It got a great review by Dunnuck for the 2019, and also by Vinous and Dunnuck for 2018. I wonât be able to get out there for a tasting this fall, so am flying blind on thisâsave for these type of threads.
I recently tasted at both behrens and at rivers Marie which included the caterwaul cemetery and I asked if they were the same vineyard. They arenât. They are both in Saint Helena close to the cemetery but the behrenâs cemetery is from the Cappella vineyard. Caterwaul is a different vineyard. On a side note they are both excellent wines. I have a soft spot for the behrens cemetery. Love the wine and the label. Have had some older vintages lately that have aged gracefully.