2021 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard
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The 2021 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is stunning. In fact, this is the best vintage of the Bearwallow Pinot I have tasted. The energy and vibrancy here are just unreal. Lavender, sage, mint, rose petal and bright red/purplish fruit all race out of the glass. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2021 for at least a few years. What a wine!
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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A medium ruby/purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is fresh with aromas of blackberry, anise, and sweet herbs. Medium-bodied with good structure, it has ripe tannins and crunchy fresh acidity, with ripe red berries, dusty earth, and bergamot. It’s fresh, clean, and crunchy, with a delicate incense on the finish. Drink 2024-2034. 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 May to taste the wines for this report. Having been hit incredibly hard in 2020, their 2021s are showing even better than I could have anticipated from last year’s barrel samples. These are some of the best wines I have ever tasted from Rivers Marie, with exceptional balance and finesse.