Rivers-Marie - Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2021

Price: $49.99

Qty:   Add to Cart

Producer	Rivers-Marie
Country	United States
Region	California
Subregion	Sonoma Coast
Varietal	Chardonnay
Vintage	2021
Sku	12107597
Size	750ml

 

Comprised primarily of the Riddle Vineyard in the northeast corner of Occidental, this appellation bottling also always features small pieces of most of our single vineyard bottlings each year. The Sonoma Coast vineyards for our Chardonnay program are closer to each other than any other varietal we produce so this wine offers a magnified insight into our favorite neighborhood, the Occidental/Freestone corridor. For many years, we have aged this wine in 0% new oak to allow the sites contained within to express their character before any other influence kicks in.

This wine speaks very clearly to the common blending notion that the sum is better than any of its component parts. Comprised primarily of Riddle and Chouette Vineyards, the resulting wine knits together the best elements of each of the two vineyards. Where Riddle might have been a little lean on its own, Chouette lends generosity to the palate and a natural weight that speaks to the warmth of the site. Chouette veers toward the white chocolate/brioche side of Chardonnay but Riddle provides plenty of citrus fruits and minerals to add a crystalline texture for balance and cut. With 0% new oak for either of the two ferments, what you get here is a clean, focused snapshot of the Occidental/Freestone area of the Sonoma Coast in 2021. There’s a firmness to the vintage that provides volume and the promise of a long aging curve. Once again this wine way overdelivers when you compare its quality to its price.