Rivers Marie Panek Vryd Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 750ml

Product Info

96pts Wine Advocate
Deep purple-black, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard gives up compelling notes of fenugreek, turmeric and cumin seed over a core of blackberry compote, chocolate-covered cherries and smoked meat plus a touch of scorched earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features layers of vibrant black fruit plus earth and exotic spice accents, supported by fine tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. 300 cases produced. Drink Date: 2018 - 2039

This joint project between Thomas Rivers Brown (the winemaker at Schrader) and Genevieve Marie Welsh began in 2002 with a focus on creating single-variety wines, initially from Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Their portfolio expanded to Cabernet Sauvignon in 2003 and a single-vineyard program in 2009. The 2015 and 2016 single-vineyard releases are singular, wonderfully expressive examples of their inspired site selections. The Calistoga Cabernet is 100% Olmo Clone from a single block in a famous vineyard in this AVA, which prefers not to be named. For the Panek Vineyard in St. Helena, Rivers-Marie works with a clonal mix of 169, 7, 4 and 6 off five acres. The Lore Vineyard is owned by Marc and Carolyn Lore. It is a steep, rocky site of multiple aspects, situated above the Rudd Winery in the eastern hills of Oakville (the former Oakville Terraces vineyard). In 2016, the Herb Lamb vineyard in St. Helena is added to the collection. Published: Dec 29, 2017 Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

94pts Vinous Media
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek is very strong. Despite the tiny crop and the natural tendency this site has to produce somewhat blowsy Cabernets, proprietor Thomas Rivers Brown has succeeded in giving the Panek a good bit of brightness and silkiness. Succulent red cherry fruit and racy, layered texture make the 2015 an unusually elegant wine for both this site and year. Simply stated, the 2015 is a gorgeous Panek. Drinking Window: 2020 - 2030

This is a gorgeous set of Cabernets from Rivers-Marie. In the last few years, proprietors Thomas Rivers Brown and Genevieve Marie Welsh have moved up harvest dates just a touch, which seems to give the wines an extra touch of freshness they didn't have just a few years ago. That is especially evident when tasting the Rivers-Marie wines next to the Cabernets Brown makes for some of his consulting clients. Readers will note the addition of a new wine from the famed Herb Lamb Vineyard that makes its debut with the 2016 vintage. - By Antonio Galloni on November 2017

Terroir
The Panek Vineyard lies at the base of the St. Helena foothills in Napa Valley, an area renowned for producing Cabernet Sauvignons that balance power, ripeness, and fine-grained structure. The vineyard’s alluvial gravel and loam soils—the remnants of centuries of erosion from the Mayacamas Range—offer excellent drainage, forcing the vines to root deeply and produce berries of remarkable concentration and complexity. The southwestern exposure ensures abundant afternoon sun tempered by evening down-valley breezes, preserving freshness in the fruit. The 2015 vintage, marked by low yields and early ripening, amplified intensity in both aromatics and texture, resulting in a wine that encapsulates the signature depth and refinement of St. Helena’s volcanic benchlands.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown brings his signature minimalist approach to Panek Vineyard, allowing the terroir to speak with clarity. Grapes were hand-harvested at dawn, meticulously sorted, and fermented in small stainless-steel tanks with native yeasts to preserve site expression. Extended maceration followed to extract fine, silky tannins and dense color without overextraction. The wine was then aged for 20 months in 75–80% new French oak barrels sourced from premier coopers such as Taransaud and Darnajou. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2015 Panek Cabernet is a pure, textural representation of one of Napa’s most prized valley-floor sites. Alcohol sits around 14.8%, balanced by the tension and lift derived from the vineyard’s cooler nighttime temperatures.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2015 Panek Cabernet Sauvignon presents a deep, opaque garnet color with a shimmering ruby edge. The bouquet is immediate and captivating, revealing layers of blackcurrant, crème de cassis, graphite, warm cedar, and violet, accented by subtle tones of espresso, bay leaf, and crushed rock. On the palate, it opens with dense, velvety black fruit—think plum compote, blackberry reduction, and black cherry liqueur—that expands into a structured mid-palate framed by fine tannins and mineral undertones. There’s an effortless combination of depth and detail, with notes of mocha, cigar leaf, and anise emerging as the wine evolves in the glass. The finish is long, luxurious, and resonant, leaving impressions of dark chocolate, graphite, and savory spice, with the precision and balance to age gracefully for decades.

Food Pairing & Service
Serve at 60–65 °F (16–18 °C) after a 60-minute decant, allowing its aromatic intensity and fine structure to unfold. This is a wine that demands richly flavored, textural dishes: dry-aged ribeye steak, venison tenderloin, or short ribs braised with rosemary and porcini are natural companions. For a more subtle pairing, truffle-infused risotto or roasted root vegetables with balsamic glaze will accentuate the wine’s savory dimension. Hard, aged cheeses such as Comté, Pecorino Toscano, or aged Gouda make superb accompaniments as well.
Drink now through 2038—while it already shows seamless integration, additional cellaring will reveal deeper tertiary notes of leather, tobacco, and graphite, enhancing its quiet, stately power.