Rhys Vineyards Tasting -- Barrel and Bottle

Kevin Harvey and Jeff Brinkman very generously hosted a group to barrel taste wines from the 2012 vintage, and a number of other wines in bottle. I brought my friend Tim Callahan, and we were joined by Paul Galli, Barry Sunderland, Richard Jennings, and a young couple whose names I don't remember, but both of whom are ITB in the Sebastopol area.

• 2012 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Alder Springs Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Bright, almost crystalline chartreuse color. Showing some light sulfur, lots of minerals on both the nose and palate, citrus/pineapple, floral, good finish. Very nice.

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• 2012 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Fair bit of sulfur, light CO2, this is somewhat tough sledding at the moment, palate is rich yet at the same time quite taut. Excellent potential, but needs to coalesce. Nice high wire act.

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• 2012 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  I didn’t pick up any sulfur here, as I did in the first two wines. Mix of citrus and tropical fruits, palate is focused and bright, with an intense, minerally finish. Terrific wine.

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• 2012 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir Alder Springs Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Quite a dark colored wine. Very tight, dark fruit, bit tannic, earthy (Kevin described it as somewhat Nuits-like, which is apt). 15% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir San Mateo County

  USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County

  Apparently a lot of Family Farm and Horseshoe in the mix, along with some Alpine fruit. Medium color. More perfumed than the Alder Springs tasted before it, with a distinct spice note. Medium tannins, dark fruited, with a nice, silky texture. 58% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard

  USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County

  Slight menthol note on the nose, with a good dose of spice, and quite floral. A sexy wine, with a very silky texture. Quite nice. 60% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir Home Vineyard

  USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County

  Raising the barometer with this beauty. Very deep and complex, with a fantastically velvety texture, which makes it seem to glide effortlessly across the palate. Despite that, it displays a firmness and concentration that beg for this to be laid away for a few years. For lack of a better way of putting it: a complete wine. 100% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  A boysenberry/cranberry quality on both the nose and palate really distinguish the Bearwallow from the other pinots in the Rhys lineup. Kevin describes it as “wild berry,” which may be a better way of putting it. It shows some light spice, and is rich, deep and long on the finish. Very nice. 20% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  This is a phenomenal wine, no other way to put it. The aromatics are energizing and engaging, very mineral and floral with a spicy backnote. A very focused and pure wine, with great energy, and a distinct sense of elegance despite the underlying power (textbook power without weight). Superbly balanced, not a hair out of place. I’m pretty sure it’s 100% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir Swan Terrace

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  A very chalky nose here, and try as I might I never got much more than that. I found the nose very closed, but other tasters didn’t seem to. Nevertheless, a very elegant expression of red fruit on the palate. Excellent (notwithstanding the closed up aromas). 100% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  A very deep pitched and brooding nose, quite a big wine with deep, dark fruit. Seems to be built for the long haul. 41% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  A very exotic nose, some noted incense and sandalwood, and who am I to argue? A lush yet focused palate, spicy dark fruit, with a long finish. 20% whole cluster.

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• 2012 Rhys Syrah Skyline Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Very dark color. Black licorice, and deep, dark fruit on both the nose and palate. Fiercely tannic and tightly structured, and I imagine this will need a few years to be approachable.

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• 2012 Rhys Syrah Horseshoe Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  After the Skyline, a kinder, gentler version of syrah. Supple and rich, very dark fruit, but don’t be deceived, this is also tightly structured.

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• 2013 Rhys Alesia Zinfandel Rockpile

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile

  Some red fruit, and I kept getting peanut butter on the nose (Jeff said he thinks that’s from some reduction). To me it’s not recognizable as zinfandel at this point. With abv in the 13s, this is very low octane by Rockpile standards. Will be interesting to see how this ends up.

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• 2009 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Lots of minerals, florals and orchard fruit on the nose. Well focused, though looser knit than the 2011 Alpine which followed, yet displays a very precise and linear finish. Lovely, and has developed very nicely.

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• 2011 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  This is a massive yet detailed chardonnay, with a hint of pineapple on the nose and marzipan flavors. Very intense and focused on the finish. Memorable. Terrific chardonnay!

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• 2010 Rhys Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Lovely deep berry nose and palate, with spice. My palate was giving out at this point, but this is a really nice wine, drinking quite well.

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• 2011 Rhys Alesia Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  A very dark-fruited wine, showing some gingerbread notes on the nose. Large scaled, tannic, will need some time.

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This was a stunning tasting, and I feel very fortunate to have attended. Kudos to Kevin and Jeff for such a well-presented and just plain fun event. It was also a very nice group of folks to taste with. While the wines were almost uniformly outstanding, the stars for me were the 2012 Skyline pinot, which was simply sublime and maybe the best California pinot I've ever tasted, the 2012 Home pinot, and both of the Alpine chardonnays. Great event!!