Juicy pineapple, whipped cream, yellow delicious apple. Sweet mango, blooming jasmine, luscious Bartlett pear. Rich and decadent eruptions of canned peach, orange zest, and lemon meringue pie boom with unbridled succulence as suggestions of melted butter, vanilla bean, and angel food cake further enhance generous opulence. Pronounced notes of plumeria, citrus blossom, and honeysuckle radiate surprisingly aromatic floral tones lovingly complicated by wafts of cinnamon, nutmeg, and warm baking spice. Pretty hints of honey, white chocolate, and mini marshmallow emerge to bolster luxurious leanings while flecks of loam soil and stoney minerality expose subtle underlying traces of terroir. Ripe, round, and downright voluptuous on the palate while retaining nice energy and tension; exhibiting a unapologetically sunshine-filled yet simultaneously serious presentation that manages to accurately reflect both grape and place. Full bodied and stitched together by pleasantly elevated acidity. This 2018 Flora Marie Vineyard Chardonnay by Domaine de la Rivière is a powerful, expressive, and enticing white from the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley.

Though Sonoma's Russian River Valley has long been known for producing high quality cool climate wine, this large and diverse growing region is only recently being more tightly defined by the unique character of each of its neighborhoods. This bottling, crafted by Domaine de la Rivière using Chardonnay sourced from the Flora Marie Vineyard in the RRV's Middle Reach neighborhood, showcases the deliciously pure and forward style common in this slight warmer corner of the appellation. This wine zealously erupts from the glass with generous aromatics consisting of ripe and juicy fruit, fragrant florals, buttery cream, and warm spice. It is unquestionably succulent and even tropical in character while retaining enviable tension and verve; excitingly showcasing tremendous amplification of flavor while remaining nicely in balance. Well done.