2019 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
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Tasting notes
Beautifully done, the 2019 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast has a ripe, more forward, medium-bodied style carrying lots of melon and pineapple, toasted bread, and just a hint of nutty aromas and flavors. Its nicely textured and displays the more charming, rounded style of the vintage, with terrific purity and a great finish. It’s well worth seeking out and is ideal for enjoying over the coming 4-5 years.
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Like its Pinot Noir counterpart, the 2019 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay comes entirely from Riddle Vineyard in Occidental. Rivers-Marie purchase all the Chardonnay (and most of the Pinot) Jim Riddle grows at his 10-acre site, all planted to the Wente clone. In the past, it has always needed a few barrels of the other vineyards to present a complete wine. In the 2019 Rivers-Brown thinks the combination of vine maturity and clonal selection have elevated the wine to nearly the same level as his single-vineyard wines. Easy-peasy slightly popcorn nose. A streak of green vegetation – a less distinctive Chardonnay than some. (JR)
The 2019 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is such an elegant wine. Gracious and medium in body, with terrific aromatic presence, this translucent, super-expressive Chardonnay is a superb introduction to the range. Lemon peel, white flowers, chalk, mint and white pepper add brilliance throughout. In 2019, all of the fruit is from Riddle.