“He got his first taste of a special wine from a girlfriend’s father’s cellar. It was a Chardonnay from Kistler, the 1992 Cuvée Cathleen. Kistler took an early lead in refining Chardonnay, crafting rich yet elegant wines that made a lasting impression on Thomas Rivers Brown.” – Wine Spectator

Were you followed? Sssshhhbumi… We must have done some things right in life to deserve THIS I guess….

Still though, pinching myself… how else can we explain this cult Chardonnay?

One with double 95 points. Crafted by THE greatest of all time Thomas Rivers Brown. And a 55% off price break?? Have we died and gone to deal heaven?

Wait, the wine before the background. I’m surprised we can speak at all. Jaws hit the ground at the last tasting panel and remained there long after the first sip. The haunting beauty and intensity of this deep and complex Chardonnay is very real, and this will go down as one of the top Chards we scored this year.

It hails from a small vineyard situated in Russian River Valley’s prized Middle Reach between Copain and Carlisle. It’s ripe while juicy, fruity while mineral, and lithe while substantial, feats only the greatest of winemakers can achieve. The pedigree of the fruit and the near perfect 2021 vintage truly shines with the Midas Touch of Thomas Rivers Brown.

Founded by Joann and Don Ross, a NASA engineer for the Apollo Lunar Landing Project (gulp), Shibumi Knoll is the posterchild for having all the means in the world to buy into a prime enclave in Napa Valley, and stumble upon an obligation to make the best wine possible with it. Which included neighbors like Vineyard 29 and Turley to paint the picture better.

Napa Wine Project has the rest of the story: *“Despite being a prime Cabernet Sauvignon location, their first wine was a Chardonnay from Sonoma… And then the Wine Spectator validated the quality of their Chardonnay. They awarded their 2005 Chardonnay a remarkable 97 points and as Joann says, ‘I was blown away’ – both by the prestigious rating as well as by the ensuing demand that quickly followed. Joann recalls some 400 phone calls beginning the day that the rating came out.

With only less than 40 cases remaining of this vintage, they had to highly allocate their remaining wine – offering only a bottle each to consumers. As word continued to spread about the quality of their Chardonnay it reached some of the most prominent restaurants in Napa Valley including the French Laundry. They have carried their wines since the 2005 vintage.”*

And the rest is history… just don’t jinx it by asking how we landed this. BUY, BUY, BUY, before it’s too late.

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The 2021 Chardonnay Corazon Del Rio Vineyard is another brilliant Chardonnay (these are all made by Thomas Rivers Brown) from the Russian River Valley. Bright citrus, honeyed flowers, and subtle toasty oak notes define the aromatics, and it’s medium-bodied, has a fresh, focused mouthfeel, terrific balance, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled with bottles in the cellar. Drink 2023-2029.”

95 Points – The Wine Independent “The 2021 Chardonnay Corazon del Rio Vineyard is a little closed to start. Notes of pear tart and lemon curd slowly emerge, opening out to an undercurrent of beeswax, allspice, and toasted almonds. The medium-bodied palate delivers chalky apple and pear flavors with a lively backbone and silky texture, finishing with a spicy kick. Drink 2025-2033.”