As if the flood of mailers isn't hard enough, Rivers-Marie just hit the inbox:

2004 Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 750mL - $25 (12 allocated)
2004 Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 1.5L - $55 (1 allocated)
2004 Rivers-Marie Summa Vineyard Pinot Noir 750mL - $30 (12 allocated)
2004 Rivers-Marie Summa Vineyard Pinot Noir 1.5L - $65 (1 allocated)
2004 Rivers-Marie Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir 750mL - $50 (6 allocated)
2004 Rivers-Marie Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir 1.5L - $100(1 allocated)

Pricing is certainly attractive, and I love the fact that there is a very modest premium for the magnums (and none at all for the old vines Summa). I'm buying, just don't know how much yet.

totally skipping.

Awe, come on Bird - it's only $25/btl

<insert evil tempting raemlin here>

I may give this another chance. I love what Thomas is doing with Outpost, & having met Thomas, he is a great guy.

But, honestly the 3-4 bottles of the 03 that I tasted did not turn me on. I have 2 more bottles that I will try before this mailer is due.

But, I may take another chance on it anyway. I am not sure yet.

exactly lcc. i LOVE outpost, and bought ALL of RM last year, but i just didn't "get it". no disrespect intended, it's just more for someone else.

Well, maybe its just me but I still believe these wines just need time. I don't think they are intended to be drunk young, and as such are destined to disappoint when doing so. We'll see, I'm sticking with it myself.

i went by the cellartracker date of "drink by 2008". i still have some left. hopefully i'll be bummed that i didn't buy more in 08 when i drink my last few bottles.

Oh, and just as an adendum, I did taste these wines with Thomas from barrel a while back (Lafon and DJ were there too), and I was quite impressed. As I recall I thought they showed better than the 03s. I'll dig out my notes and post tomorrow (I'm mad at myself that I never did post my notes from that terrific visit!)

I bought last time around and have opened 5 bottles so far. They've all been either bad or mediocre. Totally sour on the young vines, and just a muddled mess on the old vines. Too many Pinots out there that are a sure thing for me to take another chance. His calling is with Zin...not Pinot.

Chris

I think that 03 Rivers Marie pinots are going through an awkward stage right now (I've only tried the Summa). I agree with Eric that they just need to be set down for a few years. That's my hope anyway. I am buying the '04's and passing on the Williams Selyem. Thomas Brown is a great guy to boot. I can't wait to try his cab!

The 02's were worse than the 03's. I still have three bottles, and I'm certainly in no rush to drink them....guess we'll see in a few years! Definitely not a bottle I'd bring to a restaurant....unless I already had a backup plan regarding something on the wine list.

I'm sure Thomas Brown is a nice guy.....but his Pinot, so far, has been nothing but disappointing. No offense, but I'll take good to excellent Pinot from an ass over less than satisfactory Pinot from a swell guy.

Regardless, I don't go out of my way to buy Pinot from the bad guy.....hell.....I only know a few winemakers so far, and what drew me to know them was their awesome wine. Outside of some snobbery at Martinelli, I've not run across a negative or mean-spirited person making wine...much less Pinot. Definitely not a profession for the jerks of the world.

Chris

Guys,


I think folks will find the '04s to be much more attractive. They are darker, richer, more black fruit oriented and certainly less cloudy. Love all the comments though both positive and negative and always feel free to contact me for any reason. That's one of the things that makes this forum so cool.


Thomas

I don't think that anyone is buying these wines because they think that Thomas Brown is a nice guy. I do think that anything that he makes is worth considering though. Here are some notes from Steve Rigisich (Pinot Days) and his top 25 pinots (interesting thread on eBob)

3 - 2003 Rivers Marie Young Vine Summa – If you like complex, funky, rustic and wild pinots that can age for 5 years and continue to improve, you should buy this by the cases. Thomas Brown is making some of my favorite pinot with Nicholson Ranch and his own label, Rivers Marie. For me, the Young Vine eclipsed the Old Vine Summa because the fruits were more on the light red side, there was a bit more structure and it is about half the price. Overall they are very similar, absolutely delicious Sonoma Coast pinots. $26.

Honorable Mention - 2003 Rivers Marie Old Vine Summa – Though this will need to age a few years, I have not seen this much promise in a wine in a long time. The nose is very funky, almost gamey. The palate is explosive with great structure and intensity. This shows a bit more warm weather qualities than most Summa vineyard wines, but still holds true its cool-weather vineyard site. Around $50.

Obviously, there is an element of risk here.

You can't really argue with this winery's pricing model or the quality of its fruit sources - Summa is a proven terroir. I've only tasted one Rivers-Marie Pinot but to think Thomas Brown can only make Zin seems unfair to me. Tasting through what he produces at Nicholson Ranch confirms that Zinfandel is not his only strong suit (see for example the 2002 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Nicholson Ranch).

Well lets not go too crazy...

Don't forget Outpost's Grenache.

The '03 Old Vines is the only one that I enjoyed. The two '02s and the regular '03 did not rock my boat at all.

Pass. Just didn't care for the ones I've had.

I ended up getting 6 Old Vines, 4 Summa and 2 Sonoma Coast.

About once a month I make the trek up to Steve Rigisich’s house from which we embark on a new wine adventure. This time it was early September visiting winemaker Tom Brown at Nicholson Ranch winery to taste some Rivers Marie wines. Tom consults for several clients. The wines were to be bottled in the next couple of days so they had received a blast of SO2 which cut down on the nose a bit. The quality couldn’t be covered up however.Tom is a very talented winemaker. Here are the notes:

2004 Rivers Marie “Sonoma Coast” PN - 14.4% alcohol - $25.00
Light/medium red with a touch of cloudiness. Fine spicy floral cola nose. Fine cherry fruit with a long peppery finish. Good acid. Really nice and a good QPR. [90 pts]
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2004 Rivers Marie “Summa” (young vines- 9 yrs old) PN – 14.1% alcohol - $30.00
Medium red. Reticent cherry pie nose. Elegant spicy pure pinot fruit. Good acid. Another QPR winner. [90+ pts]
………………………………………………………………………………………………
2004 Rivers Marie “Summa” (old vines- 30 yrs old) PN – 14.3% alcohol - $50.00
Medium red. 100% new oak. Fine cherry/lavender nose. Fine elegant, nicely balanced plum/pomegranate fruit with a long slightly tannic finish. Good acid. Will age nicely. [91+ pts]

TTT