2010 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard |
| Vintage | 2010 |  | |
| Type | White | ||
| Producer | Rivers-Marie (web) | ||
| Variety | Chardonnay | ||
| Designation | n/a | ||
| Vineyard | B. Thieriot Vineyard | ||
| Country | USA | ||
| Region | California | ||
| SubRegion | Sonoma County | ||
| Appellation | Sonoma Coast |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2013 and 2019 (based on 12 user opinions) | |
| Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Rivers Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard on the Wine Market Journal. |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 92 pts. in 125 notes) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 5/30/2023: Also a recent auction purchase well past its peak. Still drinking reasonably well, but too much honeycomb lacking brightness. (1625 views) | |
| Tasted by leadpencil on 9/25/2022 & rated 94 points: Straw yellow. Medium to full bodied. Orange peel, peach. (670 views) | |
| Tasted by kabert on 5/20/2022 & rated 94 points: Another stellar bottle of 2010 RM Thieriot Chardonnay! This bottle showed a touch more age than the bottle two weeks ago. Color of gold, full-bodied. Still the beam of acidity but age has the flavors a bit more toward toasty lemon meringue than citrus lemon. I suspect this bottle (also purchased via online auction) didn’t have quite as cold of a life in storage as the prior bottle. That’s nitpicking though as this was still a dynamite bottle. (809 views) | |
| Tasted by kabert on 5/10/2022 & rated 95 points: Simply awesome. This could easily be slipped into a 2010 Chablis tasting and fool more than a few tasters (though the uptick in sweetness this bottle had might hint at California for some). Color was gold; full bodied and silky; delectable flavors of lemon/lime with a meringue overlay. An acidic/tart beam made this more interesting and mouth-watering (and Chablis-like). Day two: even better; lemon flavor even more vibrant (less meringue). I don’t think I’ve ever had a California chardonnay that tasted like this. (770 views) | |
| Tasted by maxmanx on 3/6/2022: This has aged very gracefully. Still had fruit and chardonnay character, but some tertiary flavors too. (976 views) | |
| Tasted by SH Wu on 2/15/2022 & rated 94 points: The brightness of the lemon curd and sweetness of the softened tropical fruits really pair well together on the nose and palate. Age has unlocked a lot in this wine, and even 12 years in, I didn't feel it was past peak at all. A deep minerality runs throughout the palate and creates a solid backbone for all the flavors to come together nicely. The buttery finish is not overwhelming, and provides the effect of adding a knob of butter to a light dish. The tension between the vibrant acidity and brown sugary sweetness from the oak was great. A ton of flavor balanced in a way that isn't overwhelming. Drank the bottle with chicken oysters, egg and grilled chicken thigh - paired well with all three. (769 views) | |
| Tasted by Cholera on 2/10/2022 & rated 91 points: First one I had had nice notes of baked apple citrus and meringue pie. Almost a viscous mouth coating feel without heaviness of an old Chardonnay. Mineral driven, crushed stones as one vegetal notes Second one I donated to charity. (683 views) | |
| Tasted by maxmanx on 11/30/2021: Very mature but still had some fruit. Drink up and enjoy! (673 views) | |
| Tasted by wjl88 on 11/25/2021 & rated 92 points: Very well integrated with oak, almost fatty in mouthfeel. Good minerals, almost reminds me of good aged white burgundy, but more tight in how it's integrated. Wish the fruit was more pronounced, but there's still enough semblance of it, as well as enough acidity to carry it through. Very good wine. (373 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 10/2/2021: Mature apple and baked apple with earth, sweet spice, good richness. And still maintaining reasonable brightness. Darker color and more advanced vs great bottles tasted in 2020. But those great bottles were purchased on release, and tonight’s was a recent auction purchase. (1425 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 12/22/2020 & rated 93 points: Complex and layered combination of rich orchard fruit, lemon curd, butterscotch and honey cake. Simultaneously mature yet bright and energetic. As good as another bottle from a few months back. Really fantastic right now, and best to enjoy over the next few years. (1940 views) | |
| Tasted by jfkwines on 12/5/2020 & rated 94 points: As I said in May and others this year have written, don't walk, run and drink this if you have it. Great Balance, minerality pushes through with lemon in hte middle mouth as the viscous of the wine covers your tougne and whole mouth. Would gladly drink as many more as I could get. (959 views) | |
| Tasted by sfwineguy on 7/27/2020 & rated 95 points: About as good as California Chardonnay gets. Still has great balance. Outperforms Chardonnays that cost much more. R-M lets the Thieriot Vineyard show rather than manipulating the wine. My last bottle, wish I had more. (1111 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 7/11/2020 & rated 93 points: Ravinia at Home (The Krengels - Bannockburn IL): Note from memory from last night. Very impressive richness and depth with some apple and plenty of lemon and lemon curd in a complex combination with anise and floral elements, finishing with very bright energy. If blind, I'd likely have thought white Burgundy. Very good now. (2120 views) | |
| Tasted by jfkwines on 5/23/2020 & rated 92 points: wow, wow . An amazing aged chard. Dark golden color, great lemon on the nose smooth viscosity on the mouth. We really enjoyed this wine and don;t feel like this is too old at al. To be clear, this is not a light refreshing chard, this is a deep thick wine with texture almost at the point of a sweet wine,.Can't emphasize enough that thi sis a great wine to enjoy now or to hhold evne further. (1002 views) | |
| Tasted by bobdobilina on 4/27/2020 & rated 91 points: Slightly cloudy mid gold color. Very expressive nose of lemon curd, smoke, gunflint, honeysuckle, toast and a touch of ginger. Quite intense palate. Orchard fruit, mostly citrus - Lemon with some nectarine. Broad and enveloping. Ample spice and a good acid spine. (854 views) | |
| Tasted by Paul Lin on 11/4/2018 & rated 88 points: Seems to have picked up some weight over the years. Not as crisp and lively RM chards typically are; this one has more tropical fruits—mango, pineapple, and nectarines. (1248 views) | |
| Tasted by pjhr on 8/7/2018 & rated 92 points: Continues to drink well. (1207 views) | |
| Tasted by Frank Murray III on 7/26/2018: July 2018 Rivers-Marie Visit (At Mending Wall winery): Poured blind as part of a 3 wine flight of RM whites. We did not know the wines but given the portfolio, we knew we had to be in Chardonnay land. The color on this distinctly golden and little bronzy. While the color was advanced, the wine tasted fine to me. Lemon, mint, green apple, decent acidity and a moderately spicy finish. (2229 views) | |
| Tasted by pjhr on 7/16/2018 & rated 92 points: Tasty citrus, mineral, and a hint of oak on the nose and delicious palate with refreshing acidity on the moderate finish. (1243 views) | |
| Tasted by Nanda on 3/13/2018 flawed bottle: Rotating Dinner Series: Rivers Marie (The Bristol - Chicago, IL): Tasted in a flight of 08/09/10 R-M Thieriot Chard. Mildly corked. (1898 views) | |
| Tasted by acyso on 3/13/2018 flawed bottle: The Rotating Dinners, II.3: Rivers Marie 2008-2014 (Chicago, IL): Corked. (2594 views) | |
| Tasted by Meerlust on 11/22/2017 & rated 89 points: Cloudy, light golden color. The nose is packed with lemon, sweet cream, and a deft touch of oak. The palate highlights tart lemon with a touch of cream and oak. Structurally, this light-bodied wine has plus acidity and a long finish. Overall, I did not know whether this wine had survived Father Time, but it had thrived. The tart lemon profile would have been a perfect match with a simple fish dish. (1108 views) | |
| Tasted by scott davis on 10/27/2017 & rated 89 points: Medium golden color and slightly cloudy, with shy aromas of tropical fruit and apple on the nose. The palate shows rich yet understated flavors of ripe pear, spice, and melon. Finishes clean. (1100 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 2/28/2016 & rated 91 points: Monthly Tasting Group: CDP's and Southern Rhones (Porter Creek, Mpls, MN): Light-medium gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. this was lovely and round with butterscotch, melon, tropical fruit on the nose. The palate is full bodied, lemon, velvety, minerals and stone, pineapple. Big, though not over the top. 91+pts. (2986 views) | |
| Tasted by Rezy13 on 12/26/2015 & rated 89 points: Served 2nd in the lineup of 3 NW Chards this showed right in the middle, fairly neutral apple pear and lemon notes, doesn't scream NW but obviously not Burgundy, shows nice restraint, good acid though I wouldn't expect this to be long lived- enjoy now; very nice. (2483 views) | |
| Tasted by vanpe003 on 12/19/2015 & rated 92 points: Pulled as part of a cellar cleaning. Drinking well now. Aromatic on the nose. Odd as it sounds, the nose reminds me a bit of a V. Girardin GC from years ago - fruity with unapologetic oak. On the palate, that oak combines with fruit to yield a distinctly tropical character, with a sense of pineapple, particularly early on. With air, this morphs into a well balanced California chardonnay, though that air brings out a bit of tannic pucker on the finish. Full throttle to be sure, but not overbearing. Specifically, does not have overdone, pucker-inducing malo. A bright acidic cut keeps this one from bogging down. One of the better California chardonnays I've had in awhile. (2409 views) | |
| Tasted by Acohen on 11/28/2015 & rated 92 points: Nice fresh green apples, pear and creamy mouth feel with good balance and medium finish. (2300 views) | |
| Tasted by Uglypinga on 10/8/2015: Restrained nose with yellow orchard fruits and hints of oak. The palate is more oaky in s pineapple sort of way. A bit of flint. Long and interesting. (2616 views) | |
| Tasted by galewskj on 9/3/2015 & rated 85 points: Another dud (2009 was incredibly oxidized). I thought I should drink these sooner rather than later. This bottle was not obviously corked, not oxidized, simply lacking in any tropical chardonnay goodness and surprisingly alcoholic. The lack of flavor and high alcohol makes me think it might be corked, but it has no discernible corked characteristics. What can I say, I have had wonderful bottles of these wines that were younger, and with recent experience, I firmly believe in drinking them younger rather than older. Edit - Ok, there is just a touch of caramelized oxidation as it sits in glass, but I don't mind it in the least. In fact, that improves this bottle IMHO. (1741 views) | |
| Tasted by sfwineguy on 8/2/2015 & rated 93 points: Outstanding Chardonnay. Very true to the Thieriot vineyard. At its peak now and for the next couple of years. (1518 views) | |
| Tasted by btock on 6/26/2015 & rated 90 points: From the TN's below, looks like much of this wine ended up in Minnesota! Hazy in the glass, which reminds me of the Kistler style and is something I enjoy. Heavier than I remembered past tastes of this bottling being. Oak is there, weighing on the fruit a bit. We had this set against a ricotta and mushroom ravioli and that was nice as the wine needed the depth of food flavors to sync against. That was my main gripe with it, very nicely flavored just not as high toned as I recall the '09. Recommend enjoying these sooner than later as I worry the wine will continue to take on weight with age. (1638 views) | |
| Tasted by Bellissimo on 6/19/2015: Brought to a restaurant paired with two seafood courses. Tropical fruit, meyer lemon, tangerines. Decent acid backbone. Not buttery but definitely some oak at play. Spouse didn't care for the oak whereas I didn't mind as much. (1531 views) | |
| Tasted by marka on 5/25/2015 & rated 89 points: TN consistent with March 2014...nowhere near as pleasurable as the 2009. (1466 views) | |
| Tasted by WestJohnson on 4/2/2015 & rated 92 points: Very restrained style, but I like it. Great acidity. White orchard fruits and white flowers. Very delicate oak treatment. Great minerality. (1687 views) | |
| Tasted by VinoDiver on 3/30/2015 & rated 92 points: Well made with good balance. This is drinking well now. I don't see any sign that this is starting to fade, but I'm not sure it will improve a great deal with additional bottle age. (1479 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 2/15/2015 & rated 92 points: Monthly Tasting Group: CDP's and Southern Rhones (Meritage, St. Paul): Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. This was a bit warm when served, but it still maintained its energy pretty well. I liked the nose with its tangerine and meyer lemons, brisk minerals and light orange blossom notes. The palate had medium body, racy acidity, tangy, good stony minerals, tangerine, meyer lemon, and a very long finish. I didn't really find any oak showing on this tonight either. Impressive, and I suspect even better with a bit more of a chill. (2332 views) | |
| Tasted by gutt22 on 2/13/2015: 13.4% alcohol. Echoing Rich's note from February 1 -- this is on the richer, fuller side of the spectrum, with a notably dark yellow color for its age. Lovely nose of stone, ripe apples, and spice, with some oak. In the mouth, you're braced for something overblown and ripe, but it's pure and driven, with terrifically bright apple fruit, good spice notes, and strong acidity. Drives through on the finish. A- (1650 views) | |
| Tasted by Nanda on 2/1/2015 & rated 91 points: Delicious, concentrated aromatics of sweet green apple and hazelnut. Palate is full bodied with round fruit and lush acidity. Intense and persistent across the mid-palate. Full-flavored and on the sweeter side of the spectrum - but not overdone and with good balance and precision of flavor. I'd drink this younger than older -- seems ideal right now. (1812 views) | |
| Tasted by Wine'in Brian on 12/14/2014 & rated 91 points: This is in a great place right now. Big and rich, with nice interplay of citrus, tropical fruits, and a touch of vanilla from the wood. The big fruit flavors and barrel influence are cleansed by a refreshing acidity. (2182 views) | |
| Tasted by thomaskeil on 7/28/2014 & rated 91 points: Similar to note from last year. Nice interplay of rich tropical, melon and orchard fruits with crisp acidity. Toast noted by Nanda is there too. Paired well (better than a syrah) with grilled 'porterhouse' pork chop out on the deck. Really nice. (2773 views) | |
| Tasted by Nanda on 7/12/2014 & rated 91 points: Big nose of tropical fruit, honeyed apples and toast. Palate is rich with slightly-sweet fruit and well-integrated toast. Nice acidity that frames the substantial profile. This is nicely done, rich Cali chardonnay. (2489 views) | |
| Tasted by budman on 7/11/2014 & rated 92 points: Super. This made my buying decision next week a no-brainer!!!!! (2640 views) | |
| Tasted by Uglypinga on 7/5/2014: I don't remember this being so oaky. It's not buttery but definitely oaky. There is also an odd chemical note so maybe this was off. (2620 views) | |
| Tasted by Mr T on 6/18/2014: Rich S nailed it I only had a few sips but bit hit with in laws who love buttery Cali chards Ver nice for this style (2499 views) | |
| Tasted by Rich S on 4/12/2014 & rated 92 points: Light golden color, slightly cloudy. Great nose of buttered apple, lemon curd, white floral notes and a little vanilla bean. Citrus and baked apple flavors on the palate with a bit of vanilla oak and a touch of butter on the finish. Crisp acidity with a smooth mouthfeel and finish. Definitely a riper Cali chard than some others from the Sonoma Coast but still a balanced wine that works very well with food. I would rebuy. (2502 views) | |
| Tasted by Bellissimo on 4/6/2014: Brought to a restaurant. Spouse and I finished over three courses. This surprised me coming with a much stronger acid backbone than what I was expecting given what others are writing of late. Meyer lemon, some lime, a bit of tropical notes (but only after temp came up towards end of the night) with hardly any sense of oak. Like where this is at. (2393 views) | |
| Tasted by GalvezGuy on 4/4/2014 & rated 90 points: Liquid Farm 4/4 Chardonnay Shootout (Lucio's BYOB, Houston): Tasted blind. Nice nose more tropical with apples, citrus, fig, and pineapple. On the palate much lighter weight than the nose would have you believe with apple, lemon curd, and fig. Nice crisp finish. #8 (3076 views) | |
| Tasted by JFish on 3/25/2014: Quick TN. Popped and poured. Drank over the course of 3 hours, the wine did not change much with the added air. Texturally, it coated the mouth, but it was not heavy or ponderous. The wine walks a fine line, balancing hazelnut, tropical fruits and acidity. Great pairing with a lemony Fettucine Alfredo(ish) pasta dish. (2893 views) | |
| Tasted by marka on 3/16/2014 & rated 88 points: Nowhere near as good as the 09. Cloudy with sediment at the bottom. Perhaps I should have filtered it. A bit bitter mid-palate. Something like mango on the palate, a bit of peach, and lemon particularly on the nose. (2372 views) | |
| Tasted by Meerlust on 12/27/2013 & rated 92 points: Light yellow color. The nose is a melange of pineapple, lemon, lime, and vanilla. On the palate, the explosive fruit is a blend of pineapple, citrus fruit (lemon and lime), vanilla, and a deft touch of caramel. The acidity is excellent, and the finish is long and packed with citrus. Overall, this is a very classy Chardonnay with ample fruit and high acidity to bring out the fruit as well as deft use of oak. (2399 views) | |
| Tasted by Just Grapes on 12/23/2013 & rated 89 points: This wine showed a lot better than my first bottle. It has started to come together and has become more balanced. The first bottle was way out of whack in 2012. If I had another bottle, I would try it in 2 years. (2458 views) | |
| Tasted by Frank Murray III on 12/22/2013: Enjoyed this last night alongside a nice charcuterie plate. The wine had 2 kind of expessions--the first, when cool, gave it a more chablis-like impression, as it comes across leaner and crisper. With more closer to room temp and with the remaining chill, some of the vanilla bean comes through, along with a distinct lime flavor. My advice, to get the wine in the right zone, for the old world side (the acidity) and the new world side (vanilla and fruit) to show, is get it with a moderate chill and explore the wine a bit as the temp changes. I liked this bottle. (2542 views) | |
| Tasted by twelch on 9/19/2013 & rated 92 points: Drank at the cabin on labor day. Really nice Chardonnay that is not over-oaked or a butter bomb. Really crisp citrus fruit that had a mineral edge to it. Could drink this all day. (2497 views) | |
| Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 9/8/2013 & rated 92 points: Dinner with Friends (SHS, Cos, Donnhoff, RM, +++) (Our home): One of the few Chards I buy regularly. Golden in color. The nose is grapefruit, some vanilla cream and very nice. Creamy texture. On the palate, this is delicious. Youthful. Nicely balanced, lemons, grapefruit and some vanilla. Long finish. Pretty wine. (3016 views) | |
| Tasted by thomaskeil on 8/3/2013 & rated 91 points: Deeper yellow/straw. Nose with lemon curd, some white and tropical fruits, butternut (fruit+oak). Medium fruit weight on entry with an slight oily texture that is nicely cut by crisp acidity and a hint of mineral. Some complexity of aroma and texture. Not finesseful. The weight and the crispness did well with salmon/watercress quiche and endive salad. Agree with drinking this fairly early. (2283 views) | |
| Tasted by tthomas on 7/27/2013: Hazy greenish straw color. Nose of citrus and toasted nuts. Tart white fruit and lemon flavors. Medium body and nice acid on a long finish. Had the wine with appetizers before dinner on a summer day. Really enjoyable CA chard that has a lot going on but not over the top. (2349 views) | |
| Tasted by djdaqm on 7/24/2013 & rated 91 points: Provided by Eric at 3rd dinner. Darker in color than I might expect for the recent year. Slightly cloudy as well. Mild oak characteristics on the nose, but not buttery in any way. Surprisingly crisp and acidic on the palate in a good way. I was anticipating something more rounded in mouth feel, but this was bracing, and very French in character. (2164 views) | |
| Tasted by fdub on 7/13/2013 & rated 93 points: Great balance of styles here. Lighter golden green in color in the glass. The nose shows a great mix of the leaner side and the fuller bodied side of Chardonnay. Plate gives waves of tropical fruit but mixed with apple pie and even some green apple. Very refreshing to drink. (1929 views) | |
| Tasted by dgriffin3480 on 7/13/2013 & rated 92 points: After initial pop and pour, oak dominated, but after an hour opened up nicely with creamy body and lemon chiffon, butterscotch, pineapple lime, plaster dust and spice, while the oak receded into background. (1930 views) | |
| Tasted by Outplaying on 7/6/2013: Playing spades with Ken and Kelly VII (Our house, Kennett square, PA): When first poured I thought this was too oaky. Aromas of oak, creme brulee and citrus fruit that follow through on the palate. As it opened though the oak seemed to fade into the background leaving tart lemon/lime fruit, a little creamy texture and good acidity. Pretty good but Ann enjoyed it more than me. (2173 views) | |
| Tasted by Lessthanzero on 6/9/2013 & rated 90 points: almost no oak left, but also a very muted nose. pleasant. (2134 views) | |
| Tasted by lsnider on 6/1/2013 & rated 94 points: Didn't get a lot of this by the time the bottle got to me thanks to the ladies inside, but it was a huge hit. Love the bright big flavors this wine has. One of my favorite if not my favorite chardonnays I buy every year. Very consistent with the other 3 bottles I have had. Seems to have added a little weight & developed some tropical notes on the finish. I also find it funny I had a bottle on 6/1 of last year. (2263 views) | |
| Tasted by tanglenet on 5/19/2013: Pale blonde in color. Opened not decanted and served somewhat chilled. Sour grass and lemon citrus attack on the entry. Medium weight in body with some viscosity. Ends with a tangy sour finish. Good to Very Good. (2276 views) | |
| Tasted by MillerRoad on 5/12/2013 & rated 92 points: I really like this Chard! (2343 views) | |
| Tasted by Haggis on 5/11/2013 & rated 92 points: This is a beauty! The color is pale yellow, belying the wines depth. Crisp apple, touch of honey and lemon, with hints of tropical fruits. The oak is muted (thankfully); just enough to give this bottling considerable depth. (2297 views) | |
| Tasted by cubswinws on 5/2/2013 & rated 92 points: Just great balance and nice acidity. Slight touch of oak and a little lemon zing on the finish. Impecable chardonnay. (2384 views) | |
| Tasted by ledwards on 4/23/2013 & rated 94 points: Wonderful. My first white from RM. To me, this is whar Cali Chard should be. Pass on the butter and oak. I see others mentioned the oak but I found it very subtle. Perhaps the wine was a bit juicy- packed with tons of vibrant fruit but I loved it. (2249 views) | |
| Tasted by pakabear on 3/26/2013 & rated 91 points: Passion fruit, grapefruit, lemon and quince. Different then most American Chardonnay's for sure and a mix of different world regions. Very good balance with loads of minerals on the back-end. Good now, I don't see this getting much better so drink up. (2291 views) | |
| Tasted by Scott Butler on 2/16/2013: My first ever RM Chardonnay. After reading some less than stellar reviews of the '09's, I was concerned about the style, and had to one open of my '10's. A bright citrus/mineral/almond nose - very pleasant. On the palate was a light kiss of oak, some lemon, a really nice acid streak, and plenty of minerals. No tropical fruits like some said about the '09. A terrific chard that makes me regret passing on the '11 chards. (2532 views) | |
| Tasted by bobpsi on 2/15/2013 & rated 93 points: Similar to previous notes. Adding some almond butter notes, still nice bright finish. (2469 views) | |
| Tasted by Frank Murray III on 1/27/2013: I've not been thrilled with this bottling recently, as the 2009 just seemed to be aging faster than I liked. I figured it was time to check into the 2010 and see how it's stuffed. Popped open, dropped in an ice bucket and put it alongside an 01 Sauzet Champ Canet. The RM did very well here and it drank terrific. Yes, a bit of oak shows but even with the wine about 65 degrees and not yet chilled, it showed fine too. Lemon peel and a light brulee note. Good energy, spicy and a lemony finish. This is drinking great and given what I personally observed in my own RM chards, my advice would be to enjoy this wine now for how great it drinks, put a little chill on it, too. (3407 views) | |
| Tasted by Sauvyfan on 1/21/2013 & rated 89 points: Multi-layered traditional oak driven Cali Chardonnay. Not my favorite style. Well done , but indistguishable from other high enders. It is tropical and oaky. Sleek, not flabby, so there is enough acid to balance this out. No match for the '08 Celani Family I opened earlier this week. (2931 views) | |
| Tasted by Just Grapes on 1/19/2013 & rated 87 points: I'm still confused after drinking this wine over a two night period. I believe this is the first Rivers Marie wine that I've been disappointed in. The Chardonnay is disjointed (unbalanced) with racey acidity and subtle oak. The PH is way to high in this wine and I like Oregon Chardonnay, Chablis and Sauvignon Blanc! This was the first vintage of Chardonnay that I've ever bought from RM. I can't afford to take another $40 gamble this year. I will pass on this wine in the future and stick with buying their Pinots and Cabernet. (3216 views) | |
| Tasted by Lessthanzero on 1/18/2013 & rated 90 points: Oak, butter, lemon and a little TRB. :) (2387 views) | |
| Tasted by elamasters on 1/17/2013 & rated 93 points: A bit cloudy in the glass. A beautiful lemon zest nose, and lots of lemon curd on the palate. Gorgeous wine. Very reminiscent of the Maybach Eterium. (2531 views) | |
| Tasted by fisk15 on 1/13/2013 & rated 91 points: Juicy and mouthwatering, not über rich, can drink now w/o hesitation. (2199 views) | |
| Tasted by gzim on 11/10/2012 & rated 88 points: Decanted for 2 hours. Some butter and lemon curd, nice acid finish. Did not thrill me like a few previous vintages have, maybe this was just too young. (2491 views) | |
| Tasted by lsnider on 11/2/2012 & rated 93 points: Very consitant with the the other two I have enjoyed may be even a little better as it seems to have put of a little weight. Lemon/ lime & apple notes. 93+ (2594 views) | |
| Tasted by thelostverse on 10/17/2012 & rated 91 points: Pop and pour. Initially not giving much, but opened nicely over 30-60 minutes. Notes of lemon oil and citrus with lengthy finish. Nice acidity. This improved as temperature rose - it was nice at initial serving temp, but really expressed itself as it neared and exceeded cellar temp. (2591 views) | |
| Tasted by tooch on 10/4/2012 & rated 83 points: The "Open a Bottle That Shouldn't Be Opened" Offline (The Publican - Chicago, IL): Pop and pour. Drank this alongside a couple other 2010 Chardonnays from around the world and it may have had the least personality of any of them. Nose was driven by oak, butter, lemon and pear. It palate seemed blocky with big oak, pear and apple tones. It was smokey too and didn't have a ton of minerality. Not my style of chardonnay which disappointed me as I've had good experiences with the Rivers-Marie chard in the past. (3537 views) | |
| Tasted by KeithAkers on 10/4/2012 & rated 82 points: Infanticide!!! (Publican, Chicago IL): Nose: the nose is dominated by tones of clarified butter along with tones of creams and vanilla. Taste: medium/full bodied with a lot of butter on the palate. There are some tones of navel oranges and vanilla as well. Overall: It did balance out a bit with air. It isn't really my style, but it didn't seem great for the style either. (3725 views) | |
| Tasted by cobbpa on 10/4/2012 & rated 83 points: Felt oak-heavy throughout...ghee & sweet cream on the nose with some white & yellow fruit underneath, but really hard to identify beneath brown butter tones. White fruit & pineapple on the palate with a medium feel. More buttery tones on the back end. (2568 views) | |
| Tasted by Uglypinga on 9/24/2012: There is a notion of butter solids on the nose but otherwise it is razor sharp citrus bright white fruits. The palate again shows a notion of oak that is quickly dominated by limes, salt, and some lemon grass. Beautifully clean and great with food. Intense, however. I like this wine a lot. (2777 views) | |
| Tasted by thalver on 9/11/2012 & rated 92 points: nice wine ....and not an oak/butter bomb......the oak is present but seems in balance....s crisp lemony acidity. medium plus finish (2966 views) | |
| Tasted by InflationHedge on 9/4/2012 & rated 91 points: Drank blind, only knew it was a napa Chardonnay. Refreshing nose of sherbert and spice, straw color with a little clouding. A terrific wine, crisp apple flavor up front and the spice on the midpalat, and lemon sherbert on finish. The oak is definitely present, but subtle and enjoyable. (3047 views) | |
| Tasted by B Paul on 9/3/2012 & rated 92 points: Really nice and probably my favorite vintage of this one yet. The last couple bottles (previous vintages) of RM Chard I've tasted have not held up well, so I'm drinking these up. (2501 views) | |
| Tasted by mjf@ulkner on 8/23/2012 & rated 92 points: Stony minerality, on the lighter side of Cali Chardonnay in terms of body and ripeness. Nice lemon notes- very little perceptible oak treatment. Very nice... (2366 views) | |
| Tasted by RMundell on 8/23/2012 & rated 94 points: One of my favorite chardonnay's. (2542 views) | |
| Tasted by sachsen on 8/12/2012 & rated 92 points: Very, very nice drink for such a young wine. 92+ (2650 views) | |
| Tasted by cartime on 7/31/2012 & rated 93 points: On the first day, some ripe citrus and stone fruit along with some notable oak. On Day 2, this was drinking exceptionally well, the oak beautifully integrated and lemony acids balancing the creamy stone fruit palate. One of the best Sonoma Chards I've had. I'm a huge fan. (2549 views) | |
| Tasted by mdefreitas on 7/19/2012 & rated 92 points: The oak treatment is quite retrained, just enough to provide a bit of a creamy texture and vanilla spice, but not enough to taint the wine with overt wood. Although creamy, custardy and round, this does have adequate acids to provide a spine. Lovely baked apples, lemon curd and peach flavors. Lenghty lemony finish. Unmistakably a Cal Chard, but not a bad example at all... quite nice with a rich salmon filet. (2950 views) | |
| Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 7/10/2012 & rated 93 points: Watching wines over a few days (RM, Bedrock, Hobel, Pott): Delicious wine. Yellow gold in color. The nose has lemon creamsicle. Slightly sweet and refreshing. On the palate, this is creamy. Lemons notes. Nice balance. Drank over two nights with no degradation. (3319 views) | |
| Tasted by mateo-san on 6/13/2012 & rated 93 points: After a few hrs, this started showing up the real beauty. very well-integrated, excellent. (3003 views) | |
| Tasted by glaze3 on 6/2/2012: I was really pleasantly surprised with this. It has been quite a while since my last bottle of the '09 and I honestly didn't recall too much about it. Ripe palate of some tropical fruit and green apple that on its own is not really exciting, but the lemony acidity that takes over on the finish really is what makes this shine. Fairly nice value and delicious middle ground between old world and new. (2909 views) | |
| Tasted by lsnider on 6/1/2012 & rated 93 points: Consistent notes. just a wonderful Chardonnay that over performs. Very light on its feet while giving a full bodied feel. (3091 views) | |
| Tasted by Wine Sparty on 5/27/2012 & rated 91 points: Nice mix of citrus and a slight hint of vanilla. Aroma has some creaminess to it. This got better over the 3 hours or so it was open. (2584 views) | |
| Tasted by fredb on 4/22/2012: Bright yellow color. Aromas of apple, spiced pear, lemon, and toasted nuts. Palate is disjoint at this point with toasty oak sticking out over top of lemon, pineapple, and yellow apple fruit notes. Expect this will integrate and drink pretty well in a year or so. Good now if you want to try it, but not in harmony yet. Hold. (2263 views) | |
| Tasted by t_moderne on 4/8/2012 & rated 92 points: Popped and poured and served with food. Followed over about three hours. Light straw coloe; nice nose of green apple and some lemon. In the mouth, good green apple flavors, nicely balanced with the lemon-lime crispness. Quiet an elegant wine, light on its feet, showing grace and depth of flavor. very tasty. (3368 views) | |
| Tasted by jmull on 4/7/2012: Consistent with earlier bottle (93), and I have burned through my two-bottle allocation in the blink of an eye for the third straight year. My only criticism: they don't age, because they are too delicious young to lay off!! (2842 views) | |
| Tasted by ews3 on 3/30/2012 & rated 91 points: nice lightly oaked chardonnay - strong lemon-driven acid, with some nutty notes appearing as it warmed up a bit. (3297 views) | |
| Tasted by Paul Lin on 3/20/2012 & rated 88 points: JT is having a baby (Houstons - Irvine, CA): This wine departs quite a bit from my experience with their Chardonnay. Previous vintages have been characterized by elegant fruit, fine minerality, and piercing acidity. This showed none of that. Instead, it was a bold expression of tropical fruits -- pineapple, mango, kiwi -- framed by a more substantial oak presence. It did gradually show more finesse as the evening wore on, but everyone at the table was a bit surprised that this was a Rivers Marie. (3883 views) | |
| Tasted by jmull on 3/18/2012 & rated 93 points: Quite consistent with prior vintages, and that's a very good thing. Lemon curd, white chocolate, hazelnuts. Outstanding balancing acidity. This is as close to Combettes as California gets. 93+ (3393 views) | |
| Tasted by lsnider on 3/15/2012 & rated 93 points: Gave it about an hour decant. Fresh lemon, apple and the lightest touch of oak. Wine was seemless in the mouth with very bright flavors. Med to full bodied. One of my favorites. 93+ (3004 views) | |
| Tasted by bobpsi on 3/11/2012 & rated 93 points: Big showy nose of lemon curd, stone fruit, and toasty oak. The nose makes you think big Cali buttery chard and it starts that way on the palate, big but not clumsy with a remarkable citrus finish that cleanses your palate. A lot of stuff going on in this wine, but the transitions are seamless. (3030 views) | |
| Tasted by Chrisinroch on 3/7/2012 & rated 89 points: Popped and poured, served a bit cold alongside honey roasted chicken. A bit cloudy in the glass. Nose of Jules' homemade lemon curd. Tart citrus and green apple flavors and a long tart acidic finish. Medium bodied. It was a nice food wine; the tart fruit and lingering finish were very refreshing. Very Good to Excellent (85-89) (3222 views) | |
| Tasted by WetRock on 1/21/2012: Rivers Marie Summa Old Vines Vertical (Elks Tower Penthouse, Sacramento, CA): Nose of cotton candy and lemon meringue. Fresh and lean palate. Lacks richness in the good way maybe even a bit hard. Lingering creamy after taste. I haven't had many Cali Chards like this but I hope to have more. (4369 views) | |
| Tasted by Fulcrum on 1/21/2012 & rated 95 points: Reminds me of a puligny montrachet. Clean acid, ending notes of pear and dried stone fruit. Brilliant. Tasted at private event with winemaker. (3813 views) |
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Rivers-MarieProducer website2010 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot VineyardWinery note: 2010 Rivers-Marie B. Thieriot Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Coast - 180 cases, 13.4% alc., 50% new oakOf course the year we double the vine acreage we buy yields are tiny. This was our last piece to harvest in 2010 and until the heat in late September hit, we weren't so sure it was going to come in. Pressing out at 3.14 pH and 10 grams of acidity it's a bit of an understatement to say the wine has nice cut. As touched on previously, we feel we do a better job of making this wine every year. This might be the first year where all the potential we saw in the raw material is realized in the finished product. Once again we treated every barrel as an individual wine carefully monitoring both primary and malo completion in every lot. As in the past, there was no inoculation for either fermentation and no lees stirring. For the first time we bottled this wine at the same time as the Pinots to capture as much freshness and primary character as we could. The nose on this wine is more expressive currently than any of the Pinots. It's heavy on hazelnuts, lemon meringue, lime/lemon zest, lanolin, brioche and white chocolate. Now that we are four years in it's hard to find original things to say about this site/wine but I can say without reservation it's a wine we love to drink. ChardonnayThe Chardonnay GrapeUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-PetersonSonoma CountyMendocino CountySonoma Coast* Sonoma Coast AVA (Wikipedia)* Sonoma Coast AVA (Wine Institue) |