2023 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

The 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is a deeper youthful shade of ruby and is super-elegant and floral. Ripe with notes of black raspberry and fresh violets, the palate is refined and elegant, with polished tannins and a long, seamless finish. It’s so good now, but don’t be in a rush to open it. Get a case and open over the coming 10 years. It’s a stunner among the appellation wines and an outstanding red. 1200 cases were produced. 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 spring to taste the wines for this report.