2021 Rivers Marie - Chardonnay Sonoma Coast Bearwallow Vineyard (750ml)

Rivers-Marie was founded by husband and wife Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh, based in Calistoga. Thomas Rivers Brown grew up in South Carolina and cut his teeth at Turley Wine Cellars before becoming one of the most sought-after winemakers and consultants in Napa and Sonoma. Under their own label, the couple focuses on single-varietal, single-vineyard wines, letting each distinct site speak clearly through Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon rather than blending toward a house style.

Bearwallow Vineyard sits on the west Sonoma Coast, a site Rivers-Marie has worked with for close to a decade. The 2021 growing season proved to be a turning point for this parcel, with both the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bottlings widely considered the finest expressions of Bearwallow the winery has produced to date. In keeping with the winery's restrained approach to whites, the Chardonnay sees little to no new oak, allowing the fruit and site character to remain front and center.

The wine shows a distinctive yellow-fruited character layered with saline minerality and a subtle roasted nut quality, framed by bright, focused acidity and real textural depth. It pairs beautifully with seared scallops, roast pork tenderloin, or a creamy risotto built around spring peas.