2018 Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 18RMSCCH75

'The 2018 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is such a beautiful wine. Pliant and creamy, the 2018 offers a striking interplay of vibrancy and fruit depth. Apricot, mint, dried flowers and light tropical inflections add myriad shades of complexity to this striking, expressive appellation-level Chardonnay.' - 93 pts., Antonio Galloni

One of the luxuries of an abundant year is the ability to be
very selective on what makes the single vineyard cut.  This version of the Sonoma Coast is the
greatest amalgam of all the bottlings presented in a Chardonnay mailer.  Like its Sonoma Coast Pinot sibling, Riddle
Vineyard provides the backbone.  That
vineyard is represented here by green apple skin but then there’s 2 barrels of
Platt (hint of botrytized citrus fruit), 1 barrel of Bearwallow (a banana like
tropical-ness) and one 30 gallon stainless torpedo of Thieriot (lemon
meringue).  All of that sounds really
good reading it back but the wine is even better.  This doesn’t feel like an appellation
wine.  Like some of the single vineyard
wines, there is a vintage inspired reduction that offers white chocolate
complemented by a flinty, savory mix of pear, mint and chamomile tea.