2021 rivers-marie Joy Road Vineyard
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The 2021 Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard is one of the most creamy, racy Chardonnays in the range. Apricot, peach, jasmine and spice are nicely pushed forward. There's a bit more ripeness and generosity here than in most of the Chardonnays, but that's not a bad thing at all. The Joy Road offers tons of immediacy, with soft contours that add to its considerable appeal.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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A bright yellow color, the 2021 Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard is vibrant with flint and wet stones, as well as ripe green melon, citrus, and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied, with good freshness throughout, it reveals notes of pithy white grapefruit, ripe pear, and delicate spice. Drink 2023-2033. 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.