2021 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Joy Road Vineyard

Sourced from the West Sonoma Coast, the 2021 Pinot Noir Joy Road Vineyard offers peppery and mineral aromas of graphite, violet, and black cherry. Medium-bodied, with balanced ripeness and tangy redcurrant and orange zest, it has driving acidity and gripping tannins. Spicy and structured, it takes a more high-toned approach. Drink 2025-2040. 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.