Truly one of the unique sites in the Pacific Northwest, Rivaura is a very scenic location just outside of Lewiston, Idaho, set on the Clearwater River. It was back in 2014 that Rivaura founders Ron Hewett, Sr., along with his sons Ron, Jr., and Reece Hewett, founded this winery. For more than 60 years, this family has grown up along the banks of the Clearwater River in the Lewis-Clark Valley, just a tad east of Lewiston, Idaho at Arrow near Juliaetta, Idaho.
Before founding Rivaura they consulted with Kevin Pogue, PhD, RG, of VinTerra Consulting based in Walla Walla, Washington. Dr. Pogue's noted "The Rivaura vineyards are ideally situated to grow grapes to make superb wines.” Touring the vineyards I was very impressed with the vine health and the location in close proximity to the river which serves as a mitigating factor.
The new wines were really good across the board. Billo Naravane, MW, of Rasa Vineyards fame, has crafted a splendid range of wines for Rivaura. I adored the 2019 Rivaura Viognier (OB, 92) which is an ode to Condrieu and shows off a silky texture from the considerable battonage given to the wine. I was really impressed with the 2019 Rivaura ‘Insomniac’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which is an ode to the founder Ron Hewett Sr. and locks in plenty of dense dark fruits with a soft texture. Learn more about this really exciting new Idaho wine project at rivaura.com and here are my reviews of the new Rivaura wines.
2020 Rivuara Rose- The 2020 Cabernet Franc based Rose has a splash of Grenache and Malbec blended in. Weighing in at 12.7% alcohol, this shows off a very pretty red floral, orange blossom and red fruit aromatic profile. The palate is very dry as this shows very delicate red fruits that collide with minerals, and earthy undertones. Drink 2021-20243- 89
2019 Rivaura Viognier- Aged on the lees, this saw battonage every two weeks. This was aged in used puncheons before bottling. Star jasmine and honeysuckle mingle with ripe white peach and juicy pear notes on the nose. The wine shows really good freshness with a beautiful texture and silky mouthfeel. Drink 2021-2026- 92
2019 Rivaura Grenache- Estate grown, this weighs in at 14.1% alcohol. The nose shows garrigue notes alongside guava and red cherry candy with orange rind undertones that all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and generous with pretty red fruits that collide with minerals, smoky undertones and copious minerals. Drink 2021-2028- 91
2019 Rivuara Syrah- Sourced from their south block property, this is sourced from roughly four different clones of Syrah. The palate shows good flavor density with iodine, wet stone, blackberry compote and smoky accents. Seamless with a soft texture and good degree of minerality, this is generous, fleshy Syrah that has another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2019 Rivuara ‘Reserve’ Syrah- This is sourced from a low-yielding site and showing off an inky color the wine yields black tea, exotic spices, blackberry compote and espresso bean tones. This shows great richness and balance, yet has a great acid backbone. Creme de violette and stony undertones add to the enjoyment. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2019 Rivuara ‘River Ranch Red’ Red Wine- This Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend has all five varietals blended in. Sagebrush and dark fruits mark the nose with chocolate undertones. The palate is soft and generous with ai smooth texture and great core of dark fruits with sagebrush undertones. Drink 2021-2028- 91
2019 Rivuara Malbec- The 2019 Malbec by Rivuara shows off rich dark and blue fruits with chocolate and sagebrush accents on the palate. The balance is great with a dusting of white pepper and good acid backbone. Drink 2021-2028- 91
2019 Rivaura Merlot- The 2019 Rivaura Merlot shows off black tea, blackberry compote and black cherry cordial with chocolate undertones. The palate is soft and plush with a silky texture and smooth mouthfeel. The flavor density is really good as this finishes long. Drink 2021-2028- 92
2019 Rivaura Cabernet Sauvignon- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this saw 40% new French oak before bottling. The palate is plush with decadent roasted figs, coffee grounds, blackberry compote, wild herbs and scorched earth undertones. This is just sensational wine for the price. Drink 2021-2029- 92
2019 Rivaura ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This saw 55% new French oak before bottling. Sagebrush and intense dark fruits mark the nose with Turkish coffee accents. The palate is dense and nicely concentrated. Layers of chocolate fudge, fresh sage, toasty oak and dark currant cordial with smoky minerals all connect momentum on the palate. Gorgeous now, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 93
2019 Rivaura ‘Insomniac’ Red Wine- A dense and silky blend of41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot with smaller parts Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The palate is soft and seamless with salty undertones that add to the enjoyment. Chocolate, sagebrush, tar, tobacco leaf and blackberry compote all connect momentum with a great acid backbone. Drink 2021-2033- 93