A passion project by one of California's foremost winemakers today. If you like Shraeder, Outpost, and Maybach, Thomas Rivers Brown is the one to thank. Though he is known for Cabernets, his Burgundy varietals are not to be missed. His focus with Rivers-Marie is precision and nuances that differentiate site-specificity. Thomas and wife Genevive are looking at Burgundy as a model, picking the grapes a little earlier, using some whole cluster and neutral wood for aging. Given this restrained approach, it is not surprising that the wines age so beautifully. Bearwallow vineyard, at the deep end of Anderson Valley, expresses a distinctive yellow-fruited character complemented by saline and roasted nuts with a bit of spice lingering on the finish. A California Chardonnay with restraint and nuanced complexity.

Grape: Chardonnay

Viticulture: Organic practicing