Tasting Notes 207 found

I am still trying to figure this wine out. 6 purchased from the October 2023 Rhys Vineyards Library Offering. This is my 3rd bottle. My recommendations are to make sure it stands up for at least 24 hours, is poured without sediment, and is left to decant for at least 3 hours. Initial notes on the nose and palate are green and vegetal, and only with the time and air do forest floor, mushroom, and soy notes appear. On the palate it still has plenty of acid, the fruit is dark and brambly, but still missing something? Perhaps it needs more time in bottle or decanter, or more careful pouring. I have 3 more bottles to find out. (542 views)

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Smells like Syrah of all things, but its definitely labeled Syrah. Rick notes Ruhbarb acid but it certainly smells like Syrah to me. (873 views)

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Great wine: beautiful nose and colour. Dark cherries and black fruit; forest floor; tart black fruit. Smooth tannins and very long, complex finish. This was a treat. (891 views)

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Wow! Love at first sip. Dark cherries, ripe blackberries, pine needles, hints of kumquat, chocolate, and eucalyptus. Felt like I was walking through Portola redwoods. Velvety smooth with just enough tannins to give structure. (875 views)

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This is right where it was 2 years ago. The nose is fabulous, pine forest floor, spice, dark cherry. It's really savory, rich, complex. I picked up on kumquat. There is spice as it warms up and gets air in the glass. (1327 views)

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Delicious ripe black cherry, earth, and whole cluster spice notes on the nose and layered and evolving palate with refreshing acidity and fine tannins on the long savory finish. (1786 views)

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Corked (1631 views)

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Pours dark purple/black with no brown edges, and with a nose of minerals and dark fruit. Cork was perfect. Sometimes tasters’ notes on CT are a mixed bag from one taster to the next but the below notes seem pretty consistent with each other and with my experience. This was a one-off bottle for me and I haven’t had this wine previously, though from prior notes it doesn’t sound as though this was ever a fruit bomb (and so those seeking in-your-face fruit may be disappointed). Now, 15 years in, this is outstanding - the fruit is mostly cherries/dark fruit, with pine and forest floor and even some meatiness on day two, all supported by a moderate beam of acidity. Superb with homemade pizza (and on its own). (1542 views)

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Delicious ripe black cherry, earth, and hint of whole cluster spice on the nose and smooth palate with refreshing acidity and fine tannins on the long savory finish. Continues to drink well. (1432 views)

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2 hour decant to wake it up
First taste at opening was closed up
Really smooth after decant
Some cola and fruit
Paired well it roasted chicken (1956 views)

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Mixed bag (The Kenwood): This has evolved substantially since I had it 7 years ago. The nose is fabulous, pin forest floor, spice, dark cherry. I can't see this getting any better. (2602 views)

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Luis rides again @ The Kenwood: PnP - This was drinking extremely well tonight, but was edged out by a 2012 Occidental Elizabeth tonight. Nose was perfumed with lots of florals and baked cherry with some spice and hints of herbs and forest floor. The palate was equal to the nose, showing plenty of red and dark cherry, bramble and baking spice. The silky mouthfeel was a bonus! 93+ tonight and in a great spot...I would not hesitate to open one if I had it in my cellar! (2802 views)

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Mixed WTDS at The Kenwood (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Fun nose, nice aromatics, cherry, sweet fruits, black cherry, incense, blood orange, hints of cherry cola and later some light dried forest floor notes. The palate is medium full bodied, dark red and black fruits, hints of dill and vegetal elements, cigar ash, sleek tannins and texture. My favorite of this trio paired with the Occidental Elizabeth and Catherine. (2382 views)

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Really lovely wine - balance of nice dark cherry, bright acidic lift, but deep mineral / iron depth. Rhys can go the distance - would like to try this in 5 years. (2717 views)

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Corked showed signs of damage so I will reserve to make a score. With a cheese cloth filter and a 2 hour decant the wine was fine, still very dark and a little brooding.Some cola, cider and a bit of fruit Paired decently with a roasted duck (2364 views)

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This is in a terrific spot with buoyant, round, fresh blackberry and black cherry fruit that is laced with spice, toasted herbs and florals. So much flavor and textural complexity. Long, bright finish. (2285 views)

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Stood up for 3 wks. Decanted off fine sediment. Tasted 2.5h after decant. Very complex aromas of mostly black cherries with some red cherries that give the aromas some lift, damp forest floor/earth, a bit of green stems and a hint of bark. Palate w dark cherries with some unripe plums, forest floor, bark, a bit of sous bois. Full bodied with nice acids. Complex. Beginning to take on some aged characteristics and definitely room for further evolution. Excellent on this night, though. Open next bottle in 2-3 yrs. 93+ (1919 views)

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This is very austere and tannic. I think it should have had several more years of ageing. Oh well. You can taste the whole cluster. Nice fruit here. Dark rich fruit, cola, and then lots of wet earth and wet stones. Also, there’s some hints of tar and licorice. Nice orange and pomegranate acidity on the finish. Very nice, though, again, I think it would be better in about five years from now. (1986 views)

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My last of four bottles purchased on release. Cherry, earth and spice, plus a cola note on the nose indicating Cali Pinot. Bottle was in great shape and drinking very well as the structural elements all seem resolved and everything in harmony. Drink. (2136 views)

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A Thanksgiving accompaniment and a good one. Cork unfortunately disintegrated trying to open, however the wine was fine. Wide base decant for just short of an hour, The color is a dark garnet with some watering at the edges swirling lightly in the glass. Quite a potent nose of dark fruits, earthy goodness, spice and resin. The front leads off with dark cherries, vanilla, green herbs and damp earth. The middle gives a kick of medium acidity and firm tannins with the fruit fading a bit, perhaps a bit watery. The finish is driven by a drying texture with rocky plum elements that fade quick leaving the dry tannic texture to linger, nicely though. Great with food for that later element, it really prepares your palate to enhance what you're eating. Unlike other fruit heavy bottles, this is more elegant and refined. The fruit is only really the first act and a cameo in the middle and back. Tertiary structural elements take focus heading to the finish. It has an overall balance so nothing is overcrowding at a given point however its less integrated end to end as it feels like a 3 act play. That's not a bad thing, and its interesting. Plus over all it did get more plum-like after 2 hours. It evolve. I'll pencil my last bottle for sometime in the next 2-3 years with another holiday dinner. (1909 views)

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Darker ruby. Brilliant nose of mountain flowers, cherry pits, fresh-cut berry, damp cellar, earthen depth. Constantly evolving palate over the evening with dense black plum, cinnamon, tart black cherry, and rocky earth elements making appearances. Firm tannin and balancing acidity leading to a moderately long finish of brambles and firm dark fruit. Very good wine seemingly needing more time to integrate. (1994 views)

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Drank alongside the 08 Alpine. Popped and poured at cellar temp. Quite dark purplish red with no signs of bricking. Brambly, smoky black cherry fruit on the nose with a hint of sandalwood. Orange peel, dark cherry and loamy earth on the palate with a nice acidic finish. Just a little hole in the mid palate would be my only criticism, otherwise a very nice drink. Further along the maturity curve than the 08, but still plenty of life left. (1978 views)

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Continues to drink beautifully with a bit if air. Delicious ripe black cherry, earth, and hint of whole cluster spice on the nose and smooth palate with refreshing acidity and fine tannins on the long savory finish. Great juice! (2067 views)

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Deep ruby color. Intense nose of mixed berries: black cherry, cranberry, strawberry; and a smoky earthiness. Medium bodied on the palate and a touch thin compared with the nose. Fine, slightly dry tannins on the finish. (1978 views)

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Medium garnet in color. Notes of cherry, cranberry, sandalwood and raw cedar on the nose. Dry on the palate, medium plus acidity. Medium tannins with a dusty texture. Medium alcohol. It clocks in at 13.3%. Acidity is more prominent towards the end. Notes of mushroom, soy sauce and oyster sauce on the palate. There's some oak but it is well integrated. This can definitely fool you for a riper vintage Burgundy. Like a 2009 Beaune premier cru. Long finish. First time drinking this producer. Love it. (2279 views)

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Opened for an hour with a glass poured off. Nice development over 4 hours. Everything became more integrated over time. Nice at all stages. By 2022-3 sounds good go for last two. (2253 views)

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In a nice place tonight. Bit tight on opening but within 30 mins and warming, it blossomed nicely. Nose somewhat muted however but acids restrained and fruit sublime. Dusty cherry, faint kirsch, long complex finish with touch sour cherry. Worth the 12 year wait. (2430 views)

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This is maybe too old or something but it’s definitely thin and not how Alpines are now (2441 views)

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Christmas dinner. Beef Wellington. Great heft in this wine. Still of grand stature and weight. Awesome fruit. Balanced but still big and delivers. No need to drink this right up. Cellar for 6,7 years properly if you like. Well done. (2313 views)

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Delicious ripe black cherry, earth, and hint of whole cluster spice on the nose and smooth palate with refreshing acidity and fine tannins on the long finish. It's got the Rhys Mojo! (2290 views)

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This is a thin product. Not much fruit and little finish which is sour. (2196 views)

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Tasty. Decanted from magnum. Had an excessive foam on the top that took a little while to settle down. (2061 views)

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Drank well upon opening (to my surprise). Didn't materially improve with time in the decanter. This seems to be entering a good drinking window. (2350 views)

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Purchased on release and professionally stored. Aromatic and accessible, but not really my style of aromatics. Seems a bit "burnt" with smoke, fire pit and coffee notes. Will try again tomorrow. (2331 views)

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Taken to Zuni last weekend, they had shite glasses but actually NBD as this bottle was wonderfully expressive and supremely well balanced. Not too stemmy, super glad I held basically all my 07 and 08 Rhys reds, I think the next 5 years are going to be fun. (2327 views)

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Quite rich and intense, the Alpine terroir is here, but amplified in this vintage to 11. Almost too much, needs a big steak! (2315 views)

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Slightly corked. Depressing & a tease, because the taint was mild enough that we could tell a really nice wine was almost within reach. (2266 views)

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In a good place and more approachable with a little air than the last bottle I had a few months ago. Held up well over two days. (2439 views)

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Brought this bottle to State Bird Provisions in SF and it paired perfectly with their fresh complex dishes. Decanted and consumed over a couple hours this was beautiful throughout with ripe fruit and fresh acidity. I still feel like these wines need more time to show complexity but this one is certainly entering a seductive phase. (2633 views)

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Delicious. Big and fairly ripe, but light on its feet. Beautiful aromatics. After a couple hours of air, stems became prominent. (2272 views)

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Tasted blind: This tasted like CA PN with dense fruit and stems. I guessed Copain with some age, but the reveal of producer with 2007/warm vintage made sense. Wouldn't mind having a glass or two of this with dinner. I've really enjoyed the wine every time I've had a chance to drink Rhys. (2970 views)

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Served blind. The dark color of the vintage shows, as does the power. Intense, chewy still, too. And I opened this 6 hours before the meal. Aroma of coffee, too. Decant this well as it's holding together nicely and not showing any real signs of age. (3256 views)

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Medium bodied. Some tart cherry and licorice notes. A bit of barnyard on the nose and finish. More Old World in style. Maturing gracefully- I’d guess this is firmly in the center of its drinking window. (2748 views)

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Arbor Blind. People didn't differentiate versus 3 Roumier which is saying something. Some actually preferred this, but that may speak more to taster than wine. (2665 views)

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Fresh and lively. Much better than the previous bottle I had a few months ago! (3052 views)

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Decided to check in on this wine even though Rhys tasting notes and CT notes suggest waiting a few more years. Well, the consensus is spot on--hold this for at least a few more years.

Tasted over 3 days (sealed with vacuum sealer in between tastes)

Day 1 - Interesting but giving little pleasure, fruit completely submerged under structure.

Day 2 - I can better see the potential, dark cherry notes coming forward on the nose, less so on the palate.

Day 3 - Totally delightful, fruit in balance with mineral and tannin. Elegant, smooth and sophisticated. Would have liked to saved a portion of this for one more day of development, but it was good enough that we couldn't help but finish the bottle at dinner. (2696 views)

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Turkey and Pinot Noir again for Thanksgiving, and the ‘07 Alpine brought the goods. Fresh dark cherry fruit is supplemented with earthy and spicy notes, and a broad, earthy palate presence, that culminates in a long, spicy finish. This is very fine now, though it has more than enough stuffing to go many more years. This seems to only be the beginning of its true maturity curve. Wish I had more. (2945 views)

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Tonight it was quite better than it’s been. (2470 views)

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In a bang up flight of 07 Cristom Eileen/07 Rhys Alpine/07 Dujac Malcansorts. Gorgeously aromatic with a huge nose of red and black cherry, spice and menthol notes. Silky AF across the palate, with terrific concentration. Three wow wines and impossible to pick a favorite. (2684 views)

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Perfumed floral and herbal notes dominate the nose here--the stems beginning to integrate into the whole--but there's also clear dark cherry aromas. The palate is medium bodied and still gives the impression of unresolved extract to the fruit. There's good density still, along with bright acidity and prominent chalky tannins that are somewhat drying still. This was slow-oxed for 6 hours or so before drinking, which did help the aromas open up. But ultimately this still needs another 5 years in the cellar to let the tannins melt some and for the structure to harmonize with the fruit. It will probably always be a little foursquare, but I think some more cellar time will see positive development. (2634 views)

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Pop n pour. Banging from the open, ripe fruit, sexy earth, blast of acid. Wow. Really surprised by this tonight. Not old worldly. Not burgundy. Needs food. Badly. Has a lot of life left. (3315 views)

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Starts really strong with strawberries and cherries. Fades over time into secondary flavors of earth and cedar. (3138 views)

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Had with lunch. Gave a brief decant and then added back to the bottle and off to a restaurant. Then had over 2 hours. Young and pretty wound up but still drinking well, if you don't mind the youthful structure. Nice mix of subtly and power. I think this wine is not for everyone but I like it. Hold 5 years. (3335 views)

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Little fruit showing, stem- and spice-driven palate and loads of tannin. Recommend hold on this. Lots of structure to resolve and little yet in the way of tertiary development. (3379 views)

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Rhys @ My Place--Part 3 (My House In The South OC): Listed ABV of 13.3%. We drank this alongside the 2007 Alpine Hillside. I can understand the differentiated bottling made by the winery, as the Hillside is just more complex and has an extra thrill factor to it. But, that doesn't imply this regular bottling of Alpine is mediocre. Far from it. It's juicy, dark and has some of the same stoniness of the Hillside, just less intensity of it. The aromatic is beautiful here, with a spicy, peppery, floral note, which also infuses the wine, as well. In sum, and only through the lens of the two 2007 Alpine bottlings we drank, this vintage is aging well and is well composed to keep going for a long time, with impressive quality here. (3773 views)

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A Rhys that is ready to drink! Lots of lift on a core of red and black fruits with cinnamon on the palate. Years to go but finally resolving and softening into a mature wine. I'm hoping future vintages are a bit more focused but this is a tasty drink now. (2541 views)

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Dinner at HaiSous (Chicago, IL): I wasn't enthralled with the showing of the Rhys wines at a tasting earlier this year, so I was certainly curious to try this. The nose shows a very interesting dustiness, something that I've never really picked up on pinot. There's still some fruit, but most of it seems to have receded behind structural elements. There's a bit of greenness here, which isn't so much green taint, but more like pyrazines from cabernet franc. It's not too detracting from the wine, given that there is some nice fruit to balance it out. This does seem to have aged fairly well, and it's enjoyable, but at the end of the day, I'm probably not going here for my pinot fix. (3030 views)

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Bad bottle (2973 views)

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Atlanta Does Rhys (Aria, Atlanta, GA): Still tight and stemmy, but with enough bright fruit on the back to suggest that it just needs a lot more time for everything to come together. (3832 views)

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Has developed a pretty sappiness to the fruit, which is counterbalanced by some stemmy herbal green on the palate. For those who don't mind this profile, one could argue this has a bit of an "American Dujac" quality to it - as it has beauty and balance. Those who have an aversion to stems will find this a tough wine however. (3076 views)

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Nice wine notes, but I find that the wine's structure interferes with our enjoyment of the wine. (3535 views)

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I am just not getting Rhys. Stewed raspberry, flat, one dimensional. Vegetal with mineral notes. Tightly wound. No pleasure. From magnum with Thanksgiving dinner. Lots of wine left afterwards indicating to me that most of us did not really care for it. (3141 views)

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Terrific. Gorgeous red fruit, just starting to develop mushroomy characteristics. Freshness from notes of chopped parsley. Subtle oak. (3054 views)

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Pop and pour. Drinking well. A bit lighter than the 2007 Swan Terrace that we drank side by side. No rush to drink, but no harm in drinking them now. (2972 views)

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Beautiful full lifted nose has cranberry, cherries, pine, spice and stems. Palate is lifted and precise. Good energy and persistence across the mid weight frame. (2674 views)

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Decanted for an hour. Bright fruit. Clean and refreshing style.can improve a tad. Wait two years, have 3 left. Though, more ready than I thought it would be. (2805 views)

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This is so aromatic….tonnes of pure fruit, stems, herbs, flowers, minerals, cola and red fruit. Gorgeous nose…has the Rhys signature all over it.
Palate is so juicy and pure….tart red fruit, flowers, stems, minerals and herbs are everywhere on this wine….great acid balance.
Finish is long and layered. This wine is spectacular….drink it now or wait…this is rocking but the fruit is still primary and has years ahead of it. No rush as this will only get even better. Great wine, almost classic (3209 views)

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Engaging nose of sweet red fruits, florals with slight pungency hinting at the acid present here. On the palate, similar red fruits, juiciness, and some slight herbal bitterness on the palate. With extended air that nod to the stem inclusion on this wine dissipates. The ripeness of the fruit is more pronounced on the palate, with a bit of raisin/fig evoked, framed by a touch of exotic spice that comes out on the nose. Pretty clearly California in my opinion. Could use a little time for the stems to integrate, but also delicious now. 92 (3056 views)

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Slow oxed for 12 hours and enjoyed with steak dinner. I chose this bottle because the cork was slightly raised by a cm or two. The bottle was fine with ample dark fruit. The tannin was silky but the acid was very pronounced in this bottle which cut the fatty steak extremely well but didn't do so well on its own. I'm not sure what the future holds for this one. I'll try another bottle in a few years and find out. (3003 views)

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First taste and aroma were promising - aromas of baked cherries followed by more cherry with earthiness and perhaps a hintof savoriness. There is also a rich, opulent mouthfeel. Nothing else seemed to happen and the wine never opened up. Very Good to Excellent. (3179 views)

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Terrific bottle of wine. So youthful. Complex with air. This will blossom with some age. (3353 views)

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Could be a bad bottle, but this tasted a bit old and tired with some stewed fruit, similar to Peter's note below. (3124 views)

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Medium bodied Cali PN. Delicate fruit, generous savory earth and unami notes. A wine to pair with food, not a cocktail styled Pinot. (2815 views)

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Pretty red fruit, lots of forest floor, hints of cola and bacon. Elegant and Burgundian. (2822 views)

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Lighter pinot with intense cherry, earth, mushroom and great finish (2704 views)

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Nice nice nice. Light on its feet, with the airy mouthfeel of a well-aged pinot. Sweet and sour cherries, paired with faint sous bois bass note that keeps everything in check. Could do with more age as it has a hint of tannin on the finish, but great now. Cannot wait to see what is in store for all my later vintages. (2922 views)

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Decanted for about a hour. Delicious wine showing a dark fruited, almost blackberry quality. Bottle actually showed some sediment on the sides. Beautiful balance, drinking well but can certainly age. Excellent match with porcini dusted pork tenderloin. (3013 views)

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I love this wine. You can't be afraid of the stem inclusion, might be 110%, but I really enjoy it. Not a good wine, a great wine. (3407 views)

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This contrasted the 07 RM Old Vines from the week before by having the palate be much more expressive than the nose. Reserved as mentioned. Maybe that would benefit from decanting but the palate here was very nice. Elegant and even yet not lean. The stems are adding nice complex notes at this point without overpowering the wine. It would be nice to spend the evening with a bottle to see where it's going but this disappeared too quick to watch any evolution. Notable as this is the best showing of an 07 I've had in a while. I could see this getting better but it seems to be entering it's window. (3529 views)

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Wow. Really impressive and delicious. Dark red berries, juicy ripe raspberries with mulberry and mossy forest floor. A dusty woodsy quality is weaved within that gives this a great lingering finishing edge. (3147 views)

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Decanted. Hmmm, this is just not there yet, and I'm not sure it ever will be. Nose shifted dramatically over the course of two hours, from pure fruit at the start, to earthy Oregon-ish pinot, to green pepper fennel notes. Palate never lived up - rather flat and short on the finish. (3445 views)

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Finally, I see a glimpse of greatness in Rhys. This was just awesome. A bit of reduction on opening, but it blew off. Then we had all kinds of burgundian goodness. (3433 views)

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Wow -- this was spectacular. A bottle nine months ago was closed down, but this was ready for business. Beguiling nose of pomegranite, raspberry, orange peel, citrus, cinnamon, and clove. On the palate, bing cherry and high toned red fruit, with more citrus and a lovely spice profile. Bright, lively and lovely. (2953 views)

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Quite lovely. The aromatics are vibrant. The palate is more restrained but fruit, acid, and tannin are in balance. (3062 views)

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Today, decanted for 90 minutes. Very good nose, mouth still high pitched that detracts from the good cherry fruit. Nice length that has more emphasis on aged earth than shrillish fruit, which is good. I liked this wine more as I got further into the bottle. (2863 views)

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Cork broke so decanted and dug right in. Big and voluptuous was first impression, but mellowed a little with time becoming more savory. This wine has changed a bunch since last checking in a few years ago. Great nose, typical cool climate savory pinot palate. Pretty good and a big step up in enjoyment from last bottle. Not sure what to expect for the future of this wine but not bad now. (2964 views)

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Rhys Pinot Noirs are showing that they are worth the wait. Deep red cherry color. The bouquet is open and complex, with dark cherry, stems, spice, and earth notes on the nose. In the mouth, elegant but powerful, with smooth, rich texture and pretty fruit. The whole cluster, earth, and spice notes unfold skillfully beneath the fruit. The acidity is bright but not overly prominent, and the wine retains back-end structure, though it's well-integrated. A completed and enjoyable wine that will continue to age. A- (2907 views)

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Rhys dinner: This was herbal with lightly stewed fruits and a walnutty note; higher acid, or rather a distinct sour component overshadowed this wine. Moderate plus weight. This seemed to be past its prime or at least recently took a nose dive. I tried to appreciate, but the walnuts and high sour aspect was a major distraction. This could be an aberration or the fact that we just tasted 4 fresh 2013's which were showing pretty well. (2871 views)

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Fourth of July at Wes & Cassandra's (Ravenna): My second time drinking a bottle of this in the last two weeks. The first was on its own, but this time in a large setting. Don't know if this is a better bottle or it just stood out for its readiness and elegance compared to a lot of young Bordeaux, but I liked it better this time. The nose has cherries and earthiness. On the palate, this has a nice complexity. It seems soft. Plenty of cherry fruit still though. Nice balance. Nice finish. Usually wines with this profile get crushed at tastings, but this held its own. (3672 views)

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Light ruby in color. The nose is interesting. At first I thought it might be that aquarium note that one sometimes get in a not good way, but with a bit of air, that changed into a slightly earthy, dusty, even moldy (in a good way) kind of note that I find in better producers of Savigny. With more air, more fruit, cherries and sour cherries emerge. On the palate, this is medium bodied. Nice complexity but still deems like its a few more years until peak. Good cherry fruit. I would not call this elegant, but it is more demure. Nice balance and good finish. Certainly drinking well now although not what I might have expected for the vintage, but it should improve from here. (3103 views)

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Behind the 2009 Alpine in the pleasure factor, but some pleasure is to be had. It saw plenty of air and it was showing quite a bit. Most of it good, but a bitterness on the end was a little hard to take. It still needs to come together...but will it ever? (3069 views)

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Very ripe, lots of black fruits, good spine with abundant tannins. Should improve for a while but moreish now. (3189 views)

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Red fruit, earthy, a bit reticent in a good way. Elegant on the palate and nose. (2936 views)

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Dark fruit, closed, angular. No obvious faults, just not very much fun. (3562 views)

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Slow ox around 30 min before serving. Dark garnet with a lighter rim. The nose is a bit shy, but opens into a lovely mix of red fruit & exotic spices once it breathes in the glass a bit. Medium bodied with layers of texture within the fruit. Some brooding darker stuff on entry with a brighter more red character through the mid palate. Acidity is behind the fruit at the moment, but the wine maintains such a drinkable palate weight. Tannins are silky & elegant. Still showing tons of potential for the future. (3669 views)

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Opened at 11 AM decanted for 2 hours at 5 PM. Initially when the cork was pulled in the cellar, there was a rush of cranberries and spice in the air. Medium dark, very slight hazy color. Nose is mostly red fruits of cranberry, cherry, pomegranate with spices and earthiness. There is a lightless on the palate at first that gains structure thru the mid-palate, medium acidity (by my palate) and finishes with length and mostly spices, (the stems I suppose) although nicely integrated IMO. While lovely now, this is not yet anywhere near it's peak. With 2 bottles left, I plan on drinking one in another 2 years and the last as long as I can discipline myself. (3776 views)

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Death by Lobster (Four Seasons Hotel, Atlanta): Still pretty tight, but plenty of dark fruit, some minerality, and a fair bit of the menthol I associate with Alpine Vineyard Pinot. (3828 views)

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Not much pleasure in this wine. Muted and darkish fruit. (3382 views)

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Really closed down in comparison to bottles of a year ago and three years ago. Began to open with about three hours of air but never reached the heights of those prior bottles. On the nose, the tart red fruit has turned darker -- black cherry and even blackberry -- with nuances of flowers, underbrush, and mineral. Palate started with the same dark fruit profile but shader to the red spectrum with air -- lots of acidity and a nice citrus/grapefruit note along with hints of nutmeg and baking spice. I'll wait awhile before cracking another one of these. (3478 views)

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Lots of red and black cherry aromas and flavors with some baking spice. Fresh and very good density. Much more interesting and fresh than the Alpine Swan Terrace also open tonight. This will keep getting better going forward. (3996 views)

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Lots of red and black cherry aromas and flavors with some baking spice. Fresh and very good density. Much more interesting and fresh than the Alpine Swan Terrace also open tonight. (3993 views)

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This had a very distinct nose. Some lilac, sumac, and bramble. A bit stemmy perhaps. Purple fruit core, dark in the glass. Have not had this vineyard before to know if this was "typical". Opened in the glass, but I could see this evolving further in a good way over the next 3-5 years. (3340 views)

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Double decanted before a restaurant meal. Gained depth on the palate over time, but the nose was never all that expressive, guess I'll blame the stems. I thought this would improve over time, so far it hasn't materialized, if anything it is more reserved and austere. I think this wine got credit more for what it wasn't than what it was. A wine that let the food take center stage, with nothing awkward, showy, or cute in any way. A wine for mature adults that lacks charm today, one I respect and like but do not love. (3346 views)

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I love stems when adding aromatics and complexity, but this seems overdone to me. It overwhelms the wine to my taste. I thought the 07 Family Farm was similarly affected. A disappointment in my books. (3806 views)

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this was drinking quite well from a few years ago... quite dark in appearance, dark fruits, integrated spices, minerality, forest floor. on the palate the wine has quite a bit of tannic structure from oak and stems that has integrated quite nicely. close to, or at its peak. great wine. (3326 views)

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Just ok for me tonight. A little bit more tart than I prefer in a Pinot. (3262 views)

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Drank bottle- 10/15/14
Venturied and decanted for 2.5 hours; drank over the next two hours. Initially, when began to drink it was still on the tight side. Towards the end of the 2.5 hours it really opened up.
Combination of both red and black fruit with mineral hints with gripping tannins.
Drink the next bottle after 2017. (3478 views)

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From the very beginning, the nose was quite complex and nice. Cranberry, cola, orange peel. First night drank a glass with about 30 minutes air, then another with about an hours air. It did loosen up a little in that time, but did not deviate significantly. Stem inclusion seems pronounced, as I sensed considerable tannins for a pinot, especially at this age. Minerality, acidity and tannins seems to be the theme on the palate. Once again, I get the sense of good things from a Rhys but they just don't come together into a tasty wine (for me) and I end up unhappy with the price I paid. Second day under argon, a 2 hour decant produced similar results. Overall, this is a solid wine, I just like other California pinot producers better at a lower price (Zepaltas, Sojourn, Calera, Scherrer). (3564 views)

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G5 - Blind 2007 California Producers (Seiber Cellars): Blind. - guessed Rhys Alpine. No seriously, stop laughing. Stuck my nose in the glass and thought "hey, I'm going to like this" and then I took a sip and immediately had a flashback to a few years ago when I tasted the swan terrace. That was the best PN I've had and this is right there with it. I like the tart cranberry and tart cherry, medium plus acidty, some mineral in the form of chalk and sour fruit and pepper ending. Love it. (3571 views)

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October Bookclub--2007 CA Vintage (tasted blind) (Counselor's Crib): I was surprised with this bottle how dominant the stem inclusuion still impacts the wine, as they appear in both the aromatic and palate still. They do add a cool complexity and discussion point but if you are of the persuasion of destemmed pinot noir, this may not appeal to you. There is a deep pomegranate here, jammy but not cloying, along with a bright acidity. FWIW, this didn't see a lot of air, maybe 2 hours and there is none left to taste today. As for a drink window, I don't see any hurry in drinking this now, as my bet is that this continues to develop and smooth out with time and turn into a real winner. Fine now, delicious actually, provided you have context for the herbal aspects of the whole cluster. (3712 views)

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Beautiful, expansive, complex aromas. Cranberry, sour cherry with evergreen, stems and herbs. Palate is tight and compact - far less expansive and generous when compared to the nose. Good stuffing with cut and structure. But seems to need time to unfold and become more complete and welcoming. I'll give the remaining bottles a few years. (3236 views)

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Just a killer nose with precise, delineated aromas of red fruit, spice, herb and pine notes. Palate has light-to-medium body and is spice-driven. Core of pure red fruit is persistent and ethereal. Long penetrating finish. Excellent showing - and notably decanted ~9 hours before serving. (2855 views)

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An Epic Night of Rhys (Sun Wah BBQ, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose was just was wide open and had a quiet yell to it with red cherries, roses, rhubarb, baking spices, dark red florals, and dark red berries. There is excellent depth with a real attractive dark red fruit core.

Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and silky tannins. There is very good structure to the wine with rhubarb, red cherries, roses, baking spices, dark red florals, and earth tones. While there is excellent complexity, this did thin out quickly on the mid-palate and finish.

Overall: This was given an afternoon in the decanter. The nose and complexity on the palate offer up a lot, so, hopefully my next bottles show more flesh on the mid-palate and finish. (3919 views)

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Let breathe for about two hours. Lots of big fruit for a pinot, a bit of a cherry taste, and more acid than I would have thought. I'm not a big pinot guy. (3658 views)

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Diffuse nose of red fruits, in the mouth medium concentration with good acidity but not too much else going on. Nice wine but not up to the usual Rhys standards. (3892 views)

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Last tasted in late 2012. At that time it was a "hold" for me. This has mellowed out a bit and would now classify as drink/hold. Worth trying one if you have a few. (4115 views)

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Not sure on this one. A bit dark and merky. Flavor okay but disappointing experience overall. (3884 views)

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Simply marvelous, confirming my score/notes of 20 months ago. On the nose, still fresh and bright, with high-toned red fruit and citrus followed by notes of cola, nutmeg and wet grass. Pure flavors of cherry and raspberry, with cola, spice, and mineral on the very long finish. Nice cut and tension. Vibrant is the word to which I keep returning. (4669 views)

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I was a little disappointed by this wine. Don't get me wrong, this was very good, but relative to the reputation of the Rhys Alpine Vineyard, the price, the quality of the vintage, (not to mention the years of patience on the mailing list to acquire this bottle), I expected a little more. Qualitatively, it reminds me of a village-level Burg from a great vintage, but it lacked some of the charm I expect from pinot noirs from either side of the ocean. It does have substantial lightly-ripened fruit at this stage, paired with classic hints of earth and forest floor, so you know it has quite a number of years of evolution ahead of it, but there is also hints of tartness and bitterness (arugula salad with pomegranate maybe?). The balance of the acidity today was a also little high for my taste, and I found these latter elements distracting. The finish was also anti-climactic and faded into the distance. Again, I would not be so critical if this were a $25 pinot brought to thanksgiving, but I expected more from a producer lauded as the finest pinot producer in north america. (4478 views)

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Nose: Chalky cool red and black fruit, cream, some slight earth and spice. Day 2: Darker florals, green musk and lots of spice notes.

Taste: Med intensity red fruits, spice, med + acids, ripe tannins, med finish.

Overall: Not a whole lot of development in a few years. Not in the greatest spot, kind of disjointed with sharp edges. Showing a lot more stem/ austerity on day 2 than expected. Seemed to tighten up with 24 hrs air so thinking 3-4 yrs from now might be the next time I'd want to check in on this. Time will tell how this turns out. (4419 views)

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Upon opening, the wine was a beautiful deep ink color and the smell was amazing. It is definitely a lighter style pinot that did not overpower the food, however there was very little backbone to this wine and I’m concerned that it is not really going anywhere. After about 3 hours the wine developed a bitterness that was not pleasant. A couple of glasses were reserved for day 2 and while the bitterness was gone, so was the nose and the wine had not evolved at all. (3767 views)

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I could not taste it due to a cold but the Europeans at the table seemed to like it... (3820 views)

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This scared me initially - it was pretty hot and oaky. But it quickly rounded out with air time in the glass. Expressive nose of cherry, brambles, baking spice, earth, vanilla Full body, high acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol (13.5%), long finish. Rich, but not in the overly ripe style. The cherry fruit dominates the palate, along with spice and oak. The tannins build and linger. I loved it! (3907 views)

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Red fruits with a lot of green stemmy notes on the nose. Very green on the palate with a dose of green pine needles - like someone added a bit of retsina to the wine. More bitter than fruity, and while drinkable, it was not especially enjoyable. At the same time, I could sense that there was a very nice, complex pinot hidden behind the bitterness. Will not score as this was clearly a bad bottle". Very disappointing. (3744 views)

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Similar to my last note. Starts off slow, but unfurls a wide range of flavors and aromas with some air. All of this is backed up with a good degree of intensity on the palate. Looking forward to seeing this wine develop more over the coming years. (4268 views)

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Still a little early for this one. Good now, but cellar it a couple more years and it'll sing!! (4710 views)

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First off this is really good stuff. Decanted for about 30 minutes and notes are on first glass. Light purple in color. Nose screams ripe fruit. Fruit (plum, cherry) hits at the very tip of the tongue through mid-palate. This is quite dry and a little dusty. Thirty second finish. I can't wait for glass 2 in another 30 minutes.

Everything the same but dusty is gone. Good stuff. (5136 views)

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Walks the line between lush fruit and vibrant balance. Several years left. (4875 views)

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This was great. Recent Rhys have been hit or miss, this was definitely in my wheel house. Like this a lot. (4827 views)

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Opened last night, drank a good bit of it, shared some with the staff @ Marche too so right now, only about 2 ozs left for a TN. The stems show more on this bottle than the last one, adding a bit of a pepper, spicy aromatic. Still young in tone, with black cherry, gamey/savory (from the stems?), loam, crushed rock and nice balance but even at this stage, with a day of slow ox, the wine is tight. This bottle seems much more closed up than the last one, a bit more rugged in flavor, as the stems still add some astringence and herbal notes to the palate. All in, this is still disjointed to me and lots of good qualities here but let it sit for another couple years, as this is what I will do with my last two. (4684 views)

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Decanted 2 hours. (4238 views)

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Still a baby, very meaty savory nose with smoky pepper, a little iodine and closed black fruit on the nose. Tight and a little unyielding on the palate, but one can sense the terrific texture and structure. I'll let e remaining bottles rest for a while. (4045 views)

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Drank it over three days and tasted the best on the third day. This wine is still very closed. Hints of savory notes and roses on the nose, with intense red fruit on the palate with some oak showing through. Needs some time. (4848 views)

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The wine looks Garnet colored. It smells like Sweet Blackberry, and Red Currant. Tastes of Blackberry, Raspberry, and Red Currant with just a little sweetness of Strawberries. The body is Medium/Full. Nice Round texture. The wine finishes Medium to long.

Had alongside the 2008 that scored 86 points. (4113 views)

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Deep magenta-purple (like an extracted Aubert)

Enjoyable in some aspects, but it's more like a diluted Syrah in a dirty ashtray. Much more Syrah than PN and I'm quite surprised given the history of the vintner. I'd drink it again (with food only), but it's not my style of PN. (4029 views)

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Rhys and Ceritas Tasting (NYC): A little tight aromatically at first, it eventually unveiled a whole spectrum of complex aromatics. It's hard to do justice to the many different layers seen here, and the palate is not lacking either. A balanced tart, brambly flavor with a hint of meaty/truffle savoriness towards the finish. The influence from the stems is there, but unlike the '06 it adds a fantastic touch to the wine. With the structure and depth seen here, this should continue to age for years and I can hardly imagine how good it will be at peak. WOTF (4984 views)

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Should have followed the wineries advice and held this one. Fairly large frame but not giving up much besides a savory pomegranate type of thing. Did decant for 2 hours but did not budge,will try rest of bottle tomorrow.
Night 2 more of the same.
Night 3 with no vacuvin, some cherry/raspberry appeared on nose, palate which helps but wine is pretty big and full bodied which is not what I was expecting. Very long aftertaste. Not too great now but maybe in 10+ years?? (4409 views)

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A very enjoyable wine heading in the right direction. Glad I have another bottle - I'll hold for another two years. (4458 views)

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Thought this was really nice but a bit closed. Waiting to see what it will be like tomorrow.

Had some more at lunch time and it certainly did have more fruit flavors. Adding 1 to my score for a 91. As was pointed out to me, this needs a little breather. (4727 views)

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I drank this bottle with 'arniec', as he was kind enough to share it from his cellar. I own 2 of these but had yet to open one. This came to dinner, no decant and it dranke exceptional. Excellent balance, acidity and fruit, all in harmony. This was really good and the bottle was finished by the time dinner was over. I don't have a drink window to offer but from recall, I suspect this will continue to improve another 2-3 years and cruise for a few more. Really good. (4885 views)

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Drinking really well. Perhaps 1-2 years from peak, but why wait?
No tannins, nice fruit, very nice cherries from attack through finish. Special. (4213 views)

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Great earthy nose, cherry and pickle juice. Very very good balance, still has a lot of time left, too bad this is my last bottle. (4092 views)

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3 hour decant. Cork fell apart on as I opened so I had to work to get cork out. Wine was worth the work. (4055 views)

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Drank with a 2008 Anthill Farms Comptche Ridge PN... this wine was significantly darker and more extracted... way less vegetal/rhubarb than the AF... way more new barrique spice in there... fruit is darker. On the palate it has more tannins than AF. A really nice PN that could use another couple of years in the cellar. Will be interesting to see if it absorbs the new oak gracefully... (4095 views)

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Short decant before serving. Dark garnet color. Candied red fruit & spicy oak on the nose. Much more reserved/structured palate. This shows an immediate blast of tart cherry intermixed with a spicy character that really makes you long to taste this wine once it integrates more. Intensely structured right now. Firm, unyielding tannins & drying acidity balance the powerful red & black fruit. This is definitely in a youthful, muscular stage, but the elegant underpinnings really show hints of what this will become one day. Endless finish. (4020 views)

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Needs time to open and still way young but rich intense dark cherry core with spice and earth and good finish (4103 views)

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Excellent, but still needs a bit of time. (3903 views)

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My palate may not be refined enough to enjoy. Does have a green taste but still enjoyable. Can't pick up the nuances. (3986 views)

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I'm told this wine needs air and so it was double decanted a few hours prior to service. You really have to appreciate wine in the more reserved style to be a fan of Rhys, but this has a quite lovely nose of ginger, incense, spicebox. With time more fruit came forward in the form of dark cherries. This is quite a structured wine that shows plenty of promise for long term development. Palate has lots of acid and tannin, do not touch for a few years. (4226 views)

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Candied raspberries, pomegranates, rose petals, red bells pepper, and stem. (4102 views)

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4 Hour decant helped this alot. (4110 views)

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Opened a bottle -- perhaps a bit prematurely -- as research in connection with the pending Rhys offer. Part of me wanted not to like this, given the ever increasing prices of the Rhys offerings. But, damn, this bottle was fabulous. On a different plane than the vast majority of California pinot.

On the nose, orange peel, brown spice, clove, cardamom, cranberry, flowers and wet rock. Awesome. Great tension in the mouth, with grippy tannin fighting bracing acidity, all wrapped around a core of pure cherry with a hint of wild berry and a limestone edge.

Just a baby. Give this a few more years, and watch out! (4272 views)

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Darker than most CA and OR pinots. Cherry and smoke on the nose. Gains additional aromatics after second which is now much more pleasant. On the palate tart cherry and pomegranate with some oak and yes some green peppers. Palate intensifies after the second hour and thus the 94 (pop and pour get a 90+). Wait at least two more years as this will become better balanced and less harsh. Not your fruity CA pinot (Kosta Browne type)….although it does offer some minerality/stoneness which I anticipate will develop w/ more time in the bottle. Outstanding potential. (3668 views)

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Deep fruit of cranberry, plum and a hint of strawberry with some hint of loam and leather. Very good structure but fruit dominates at this point. (3842 views)

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Sigh, want to be a believer here ... but in terms of enjoyment, that's where I am points-wise. (3966 views)

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Tart cherry. Pepper. Needs some time, but was quite enjoyable at 5 hours of opening. (4342 views)

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The label clearly said Pinot Noir but the nose and taste clearly said Cabernet Sauvignon! It had the telltail cedar and tobacco nose... bizarre! A touch stewy, the pinot noir flavors slowly emerge from the fog of other elements, this is sweet on the palate, not exciting but serviceable, decently balanced and reserved. Some mid-palate dilution. (4337 views)

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Spectacular nose with a mouth that doesn't quite follow through yet, in spite of an hour decant It gets better over the course of the next 90 minutes, but it still seems as if the mouth is somewhat reticent in its display. Significant room for betterment here.

Try next when, in 2013? Be sure to decant for more than an hour. (4314 views)

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Medium ruby color with light rim. Beautiful aromas of cherry, cranberry, black pepper, oregano and bramble. Palate is filled with cherries, cranberries and a touch of earthiness. Medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins, medium/full body, medium+ finish. I think there is an upside to this wine given some more time in the bottle. I like this wine a lot. Excellent. (4804 views)

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Dinner in Sonoma (at Estate): Seemed to be in an awkward place and I had it scored lower for most of the night. Perhaps if I tried it again in an hour it would have been even better. The nose has tart cherries and what we all agreed on was a green bean note. It was distracting. Much better on the palate though with a juicy texture and lots of black cherries. Some firm tannins as well. Probably shouldn't be opening these now or else slow-ox them for a long time. The green bean note faded with air but did not go away. (5418 views)

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Super green...I don't know if I was just more akin to it this go around or what, but it was out of balance. Palate was great though... (4674 views)

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Dark, opaque purple. Big, smoky nose with spice and a hint of green pepper. Mouth-filling on the palate, with some nice tannic grip. Still pretty green, as others have noted, but earthy with some mineraliness. Bright spice, but not too acidic. Some cranberry and cherry notes. Enjoyed this very much, but will keep away from the second bottle for a few more years. (5174 views)

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I liked this wine, but my fruit loving, fans of cal Pinot did not appreciate it. They found it green and uncalifornian like. One said that is why he dropped off the Rhys list. Fair enough. For me, it is delicious and I am sure the style they are shooting for. There is a nice cherry component kind of like mixing cherry juice with diluted cranberry juice. There is a stemmy quality, although slight, that I enjoy very much. Lots of complexity and although young, this drink easily and shows a lot of interest. Soft and non-aggressive, I would not use the term Burgundian, but it is not the bigger style of cal Pinots for sure. Glad to own some more, I will think about where to open them. (5791 views)

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2 bottles each drunk over 2 days. The 2d day for each bottle revealed the potential of the wine. Good nose on the second day. The lack of fruit richness absent the first day was exhibited on the second. This is a medium bodied wine, ruby color, with promise. However, relative to old vine wines, it is obvious that the vines are young (much promise) which means flavor complexity will be a question until the years pass. Average but adequate (for me) finish. (5454 views)

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Still fairly primary, but developing nicely. Most impressive for it's powerful aromatics. The nose is powerful but not overtly exuberant. Rich fruit, soil and mushroom notes with moderate weight and perfect balance of fruit, acid and structural tannin. This bottle saw about 4 hours of air. A good cellar candidate, perfect construction, seemingly well set up for aging. (5707 views)

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David Niederauer's 4th Annual Hobo Dinner: A Night of Surprises (The Plumed Horse Restaurant, Saratoga, California): Opaque black red violet color; padron chile, green bean casserole, stems nose; maturing, padron chile, green bean, stems, tart black cherry palate; needs 4-5 more years; medium-plus finish (tasted from two bottles, with consistent notes) (5647 views)

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Weeknight Wine Tasting (Bistro 7, Philadelphia PA): this wine surprised me, as i had an 07 alesia falstaff the night before and loved it -- i had even higher expectations for this. there were some serious green streaks in it at present (had ~ 2 hours of air before we got to it). i am hoping that it is just too young and this is actually a sign of more advanced structure than i typically see. it was primarily on the attack and then rounded into a lovely dark fruit driven mid-palate which led into a delicious finish. sharp acid here shows potential for aging. i will wait a while to open my second bottle and check in on CT notes to make sure it will be integrated. (5942 views)

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Survery Of New World Wines (Bistro 7 (7 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia)): I agree with many of the reviews on CT. This shows a green tannic streak initially and is quite difficult to drink, especially when compared with the fresh and fruity Rivers-Marie that preceded it. My review reflects the wine right now as opposed to what it may become. I'll trust the judgment of those with more experience with this wine when they say that this wine needs time. Indeed, after some time in the glass, it started showing improvement. However, right now it is definitely disjointed. Whether it is the strong presence of the stems (someone mentioned that below) or some other reason, I would hold these for several years. There is good darker fruit on the palate, if you can get by the initial green streak. (5971 views)

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EWG: Decadence (Conrad Green's Abode): Pay heed to Kevin's advice and leave these be. Strong green stem presence on the nose. Very strong. Tight and grippy. Lean and tannic. Hard to read at all but the greenness of the stem notes does give me some pause. Makes me think of some of Copain's earlier work where the wines were never able to get out from under that. I believe the fruit concentration is here for it to come together but only time will tell. (7010 views)

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i should know by now not to open these! this was way too soon. quite a bit of stems. underneath there is promising red fruits and plenty of minerality. drying finish. hold for another few years. (6010 views)

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13.3% ABV. Tasted over a couple days. Translucent ruby garnet in the glass. Fragrant, somewhat unique nose of black cherry, roses, earth, and spices along with something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Overall, really nice nose. Medium bodied and more reticent on the palate with tangy, zesty cherry fruit primarily. Day 2, the nose was still really interesting while the palate may have firmed up a bit with some grippy tannins, tangy cranberry and cherry fruit and some serious late acidity. Lots of potential. This isn't the sort of wine that makes me say "yum," but it is certainly a wine that is intellectually stimulating. (6401 views)

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needs at least 3 more years (6610 views)

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Decanted 2 hours.Too much green stem for me now. Save others for at least 2 years. (6218 views)

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Nice fruit and balanced minerality. But this is still showing young and tight. (6062 views)

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It was a mistake to open this last night. It was rather closed even after 90+ minutes in the decanter as I drank nearly half the bottle in vain. My sinuses re-congested overnight to the point that I passed on the pickup day today @ Rhys, but I have savored a long glass here on day 2 in a period of clarity and it is showing far better, with deep black cherry, pomegranate, and tangy-sweet minerals with superb acid balance. I agree with those who report that the sappy fruit sits over the stemmy structure, boding well for the future. Hold. (6036 views)

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Stunning wine. Reminiscent of a Corton. A Cali PN with ABV of 12.7?? Wow! Such an elegant wine. Cassis, clove, black cherry. Perfect hint of oak. Etherial nose. Very sexy wine. This one ought to be a big winner for Valentine's day. The acidity is lower than most Cali PNs resulting is a very smoth and silky wine. The body is light but nuanced. The finish hangs effortlessly until your next taste. (6515 views)

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A distinct stemmy note upon opening, but the quality of the fruit and lovely texture of the wine are equally apparent. Will be outstanding if all comes into balance. (6575 views)

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07 Vintage PN Blind 6-bottle Shoot Out. RM and KB #1 and #2, respectively. Drank this bottle way too soon. Hold for another 5+ years at a minimum. (6507 views)

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This is sensationally good. Although it's very young, this is showing bright red and black fruits, intriguing spice, minerality, and impeccable balance. It is deep, complex, and intense. I have found some young Rhys, including the 07 Family Farm, a little bit stemmy, but with its darker fruit and intense attack, the stems here are overwhelmed by pure, sappy Pinot deliciousness. The ripe tannins suggest that this has a way to go before it reaches its apogee, but even now this is a marvelous young wine. (6871 views)

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Drank with Thanksgiving. Very delicious. Balanced acidity and structure with fruit. Described as smooth by friends. It will continue to get better. (6668 views)

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With four bottles in the cellar, I just had to pop one to try it out. Very primary, with a mix of red and (mostly) dark fruit; also kept getting a pomegranate(?) note. Structured and serious, this wine barely budged, despite almost two hours in the decanter. Tannins are fine but evident, and the presumed stem inclusion shows. Definitely a sense that there is loads underneath the surface, just waiting to develop. Needs at least a couple of years. Impressive. (6799 views)

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Decanted 1-1/2 hrs. Nice nose of earth and dark fruits with a hint of spice. Forest floor, green tea and dark cherry flavors with well balanced acidity and smooth tannins. What a pleasure to drink. (6996 views)

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Great wine. Can't wait for some time on this one. (6619 views)

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Outstanding showing for this wine. Similar to previously tasted bottles. (6676 views)

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Definitely needs time! Super complex - a bit dry on the finish, (whole cluster.) Should be ultra smooth in about 10 years. (7129 views)

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Dark red. Enticing nose with dark berries, wet soil, and white pepper. The palate is medium body with lush fruit, moderate smooth tannin and well balanced acidity. Overall good structure. Showing well now and should age gracefully for 5+ years. Lovely complex wine. (7006 views)

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A nice, if not a bit stern, Burgundian Pinot. Nice spice and forest flavors, but this is tightly coiled and holding something in reserve. Very nice, crisp, cleansing acids. This needs to rest some. (6581 views)

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Similar to previous bottle tasted on release. This will benefit from an additional 2 to 3 years of bottle age. The aromatics and palate continue to display a stone/rock character that gives the wine a structured / masculine feel. (6549 views)

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Nose: Green, stemmy element, black pepper, bramble, bright fruit - cherries, sour strawberries. Palate: Crushed gravel, strawberries, sour cherries on the attack. Some noticeable tannins along with some slightly sour berries, not to mention gobs of acidity on the mid-palate. A bit of a woodsy element on the finish... call it cedar, along with a creamy berry streak. The palate is very much Santa Cruz mountains and there is ample structure here. For my liking, I'd prefer to see just a little more sweetness from the fruit. Will probably be at its best in 3-5 years. (6540 views)

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I was really looking forward to trying this wine, but was so disappointed. I've had some of their other bottlings and enjoyed them. To me, this was like a very average Oregon PN in an average year--unripe, stemmy and acidic. It may improve with age. (6497 views)

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Pinot Noir for Cabernet Lovers (Sandy & Michael's, Los Altos, California): Very dark red violet color; forest floor, tart red fruit nose; mineral, Burgundian, forest floor, tart raspberry, green tea palate with green notes; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. (vineyard planted to 16 clones of Pinot, including Calera, Swan, La Tache, Hyde and Wente) (5935 views)

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Had to give this one a try after the beautiful performance of the Family Farm the night before. This opens pretty similarly with a serious spine that's showing the obvious signature of the stems, but unlike the Family Farm it's showing some muscle from tannin, too. In addition to the structural differences there's a different kind of fruit profile. The Family Farm was a more basic red - cherry or strawberry or whatever - while the fruit spectrum here includes some more tangy flavors, more juicy and tart but also a little deeper in complexion. There's a stoniness too especially on the back end. While it's showing more complexity than the Family Farm and is certainly behaving like the longer ager of the two, I think I actually prefer the Family Farm at this moment for its finesse. (7263 views)

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definately shows like burgundy without the brett. Nicely balanced and weighted with spice, fruit and acid. The finish is a tad clipped, but just a tad. (6300 views)

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Raspberry jam, licorice and floral notes dominate the nose. A sweet and sour earthiness explodes on the palate. Nicely structured and although the strength of the tannins should allow this to age well it is also very delicate and drinkable now. (5975 views)

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Very light nose; some floral elements but not showing much. Sour cherries and a hint of white pepper and spice. Light. Tart. A bit too sour for me. (6141 views)

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1st night: The nose is marred by some reduction/so2 that blew off a bit, but is really distracting. Crystalline fruits and florals but something seems off. Needs years.

2nd night (with argon): This is a completely different wine. Fooled my wife, who is a novice burgundy snob, into thinking this was a good grand cru. Nose is still a touch hot/acetonish, but I think it will integrate. Otherwise, scents of white flowers and crushed liquid rocks, deeply pitched and sappy dark red fruits. Very chabolle like in the mouth with plenty of weight. Silky mouthfeel, dark tautly strung fruits, dense long finsh with fine tannins and the sense of rose water that lingers for minutes. Tons of depth, everything is there, this is just hyper young and primary. If anything, maybe lacking a touch of precision, but this is a terroir lovers dream. Mea culpa for the first night's doubt, this is quite profound. (5723 views)

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Drank over two nights. Dark color. Dark fruits, stems and floral notes on the nose. A pretty, tart cherry on the palate with ample acidity and good tannins. Definitely an ager - I will try to wait at least a couple of years before opening another bottle. 92+ (5848 views)

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Opened and left to aerate for 1.5 hours. Still very restrained on the nose. Pretty cherries dance on the nose with some rose petals on the back end. In the mouth, there is close knit but soft tannins that rushes in with complementary acid with some stony, red berries. A velvety, and slightly round mouthfeel. Very clean and precise, with a gentle progression from entry to finish. A great wine. (5758 views)

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This is the most burgundian California wine I have ever had...great acid light to medium bodied...no brett or other issues that have so often complicated our forays into the French pinots...ironically, if the consistency is there among all the Rhys bottlings, this will become a more reliable, preferable experience than the crap shoot that is Burgundy (5887 views)

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Very earthy nose, much more Burgundian like without the funk. Good balance with some moderate tannins that should resolve in about 5 years. One of the best new world producers of Pinot! (5867 views)

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Popped and poured. Nose: clean, some dried flowers, restrained and showing some stems. Palate: bitter black fruit profile, a little flat and lacking energy. Finish: long, drying with nice minerality. (5668 views)

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Very good complex and long. The nose is quite primary and focused. The wine does tend to shut down after a day or so of being open. It's got great potential, it just needs time. (5638 views)

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This wine was very tight upon opening. Decanted and drank over an hour and the wine was improving by the minute. Fruit was starting to show threw a tannic and nicely acidic backbone with a gravel and stone undertone. Tannins will support a long aging period. I wouldn't open another bottle for 4-5 years (5646 views)

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Opened and poured, this wine showed well. The aromatics show red and black cherry, stone, minerals, spice and floral notes. The color is a medium to dark ruby the is youthful and vibrant. The medium bodied palate shows balance and length. The wine finishes with tannins making an appearance. The palate shows an underlying stone characteristic that gives a structured impression to the wine. This should benefit from a few years of bottle age to soften the structured stone notes and bring out additional complexity and nuance. (5449 views)

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Really dark purple.. quite dark for a Pinot..
Lots of earthiness, some minerals, herbs, and sour cherry.
Bright acidity, lovely mouth feel. just drinks very pretty.. Definitely needs more time but couldn't help myself! (5901 views)

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Nose - heady, with wood spice, savory, tight, light resin, plum.
Smoky, irony, char and roasted plum, rosemary, strawberry, herbal stemminess, nasturtium. Lots going on. Drink '16-'32. (7003 views)

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Bright red cherry and black cherry profile, with loads of structure, earth, and spice. A laser beam on the palate, cutting a strong swath to the long finish that has ample tannins. A- (6628 views)

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