2023 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Joy Road Vineyard

The 2023 Pinot Noir Joy Road Vineyard takes things up a notch in its spice profile. It pours a jeweled ruby color and is fresh with notes of toasted incense and fresh raspberries. It’s medium-bodied, with an elegant, pure feel, a lot of clarity, refreshing acidity, and a clean, stony finish. It’s a lovely wine now but should also hold up another 15 years. 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.