2021 Rivers Marie - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Panek Vineyard (750ml)

Rivers-Marie was founded in 2002 by husband and wife Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh, with the winery's name combining both of their middle names. Thomas is among Napa Valley's most sought-after consulting winemakers, having crafted acclaimed Cabernets for numerous top producers, but Rivers-Marie remains his and Genevieve's personal project, built first around small-lot Pinot Noir before expanding into single-vineyard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.

Panek Vineyard sits on an old creek bed north of the town of St. Helena, near the Aida Vineyard, and it's where Rivers-Marie's Cabernet program truly began, with their five-acre piece of the site first bottled separately in 2009. Though it's a relatively warm location, the resulting wine avoids any sense of over-ripeness, instead showing the wide spectrum of red, blue, and black fruit character the site is known for.

The wine reveals a deep purple hue with an expressive nose of chocolate-covered red and blue fruits, bouquet garni, tobacco, and scorched earth. Full-bodied, juicy, and rich, it carries substantial tannins through a long finish. Pair it with grilled bison ribeye, spiced venison stew, or hard aged Piave.