Muted perfumed nose. The mouth was red fruit with cranberry and cherry predominant with a jammy quality. As with previous TN the length is short, and my feeling is the wine is on the downward arch.
Day 2. Took a turn for the worse overwhelming flavor of smoke, wood, and BBQ not in a good way.
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My last bottle. This just has never wowed me, and this bottle didn't change that. PnP. Aromas of cherry, red licorice, spice and stems. Light in color. Light to medium body with light flavors of red cherry, red licorice, spice, and stems. Very short finish. Good balance. Not what I expect for the price point. There is a reason I quit buying this vineyard. Not my style.
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Seemingly mature, with a cedar/sandalwood spice note with some tertiary fruit flavors. Palate a little diffuse at this point and without some of the intensity of “better” vintages. Probably at peak I would think.
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PnP. Aromas of cherry, red licorice, spice and stems. Light in color. Light to medium body with light flavors of red cherry, red licorice, spice, and stems. Very short finish. Good, but not as good as expected. May be fading?
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Nice nose of red fruit and light spice, but the acid was front and center, with the fruit fading quickly. Decent enough, but a bit disappointing in light of expectations.
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Certainly enjoyable but also somewhat awkward. Lots of tasty red berry throughout, but a few elements are off center. Whole cluster is too pronounced. A little Brett or otherwise not perfectly pristine.
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-- decanted 1 hr. before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over a few hours --
NOSE: high-toned red fruits (red currant and cranberry); hint of orange oil; medium brett.
BODY: bit hazy; rustic dark ruby color of medium depth; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: high acidity; smooth; slightly aged red fruits; no tannin; 12.8% alc. not noticeable; small hint of brett; juicy red berries; very nice. Drink Now and over the near term.
50, 4, 12, 18, 8 = 92
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PnP. Medium dark red. Complex nose of black fruits and spice. Quite a full taste on the palate of dark fruits and a smooth texture followed by a finish which echoes whole cluster influence. This bottle (my last) seems much more fruit driven than the last and is in better balance. Could easily have been 5 years younger and will continue to last for years. One of the few Rhys pinots i've had which was on its plateau of maturity and suggests how long these will live. Excellent.
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James Kim’s prior note is spot-on. Tart cherry and eucalyptus profile, a bit earthy, and nearly perfect acid/fruit balance. Fairly complex. On the more austere end of the spectrum as far as Cali pinots go and I welcome that. Lots of personality!
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Stood up for 2 weeks, decanted off fine sediment for 1.5h then back into bottle. Mellow aromas of red and black cherries, green stems, brown leaves, bark and a bit of earth. Palate was more about tart cherries, bark, eucalyptus bordering on menthol. Nice finish. Med-full bodied with nice acids and complexity. Lovely.
With Valerie and Katya, drank over about 2 hours. First bottle of this designate from my 11s...
Medium ruby/purple color, translucent. Nose of black raspberry, spice and faint. Lithe and delicate textured palate showing dark cherry, mineral, orange zest, earth/mineral. Nice persistence through mid palate. Light body, finish is medium length but layered.
A lot of personality here, the texture would make you think the fruit would be more subtle. Probably the most expressive of the 2011s
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One of the better Rhys pinots I've tasted. Complex and pretty aromas of wild strawberries, red beets, green brush, smoky minerals, and cloves. Delicious to drink now, or save to see what develops. I think I would most enjoy this wine four years from now.
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Fireworks! This started out fairly dense, but quickly evolved into a high-toned, vibrant, medium-bodied wine, with aromas of leather and violets. Some reductive elements emerged later, not as a defect, but providing a slight framing of astringency.
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Tasted over 1.5 hrs -nearly semi-translucent med red purple mild clearing -moderately expressive rhubarby new world pinot stems spice -med acidity, med/med- weight med concentration somewhat diffuse rhubarb red fruit spice, med tannins persist along with some perceptible wood on the finish -on the lighter side for Rhys, drinking well now
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Brick red. Light to medium bodied California PN. Pomegranate, tart raspberry fruit. An herbal, underbrush note lies on the finish. Ok now- don't see much stuffing for this to improve much.
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-- decanted 30 min. before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind for 3 to 4 hours --
NOSE: high-toned; red-fruited; hint of sweet roasted tomato (which I like); expressive; very light spice (possibly oak-derived); not funky or "dark"; bit of a funky something after about 45 minutes open (stinky cheese); not very complex; hint of cumin after 3 hours open.
BODY: slightly hazy light ruby color with light shade of orange at the edges; color is of medium-light to medium depth; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: no tannin; garrigé; light fruits --- nothing stands out; lightly tart; 12.8% alc. not noticeable; I think there may be a tiny hint of brett in here --- nowhere close to upsetting; seems to be very accessible and ready to go; this would need to put on weight to improve from here & the thin edges makes me think that's not going to happen; strikes me as wide open; Drink Now and over the near term.
50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = 89
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PnP. Quite a light red. Savory tea and a slightly smokey note on the nose. On the palate this is dark fruit and spice with some of the whole cluster savory quality on the finish, which is quite long. A deceptive wine which has excellent balance and is all about complexity rather than fruit. This could improve further based on the balance but quite an interesting drink today.
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Really enjoyed this pinot! Delicious tart cherry, earth and whole cluster notes on the open nose and savory palate with juicy acidity on the moderate finish. Drinking well!
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Lovely nose of underbrush, tea and brambly blackberry fruit. Just falls flat on the palate - not bad, but not the usual verve I expect from Rhys and nowhere near the complexity of the nose. I don’t think this is going to get better with age.
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Brick red and the nose is more dried flowers than fruit, so I could see how some may see this as premature age. Personally I don't think its that. Family Farm has always been more on the savory side for my palate, and in 2011 I believe that's compounded. It has a sweet herbal nose, the verve of a Nebbiolo, and a lasting saline finish. Lovely now and I'm in no rush to drink my one remaining bottle.
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It may be past it’s prime. Nose is filled with floral notes. Initial flavor is filled with tobacco, leather, oak, and smokiness. Does finish long and smooth, just not a match for my palate.
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well made wine, but the flavor profile isn't as appealing to me as the santa cruz mtn wines. there's more savory, earthy, smoky tones going on here. still good.
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Really solid. Leans toward the tart red fruit end of the spectrum. Fresh and light on the palate, with just a hint of bitterness and spice, presumably from the whole cluster. Holds the finish well. Seems like it could integrate and add further complexity with time.
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My bottle didn't taste anything like these notes. Flawed somehow. Maybe corked? I'm horribly insensitive to TCA, so I can't say for sure. But there was something off.
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definitely the best bottle i've had from this vineyard. echoing others below, this bottle is showing a bit of age and maturity - seems to have settled into a good spot. I've found in the past that FF vineyard shows tart red cranberry - in this case, the acidity is still there but the palate has deepened and darkened. Med-body, as is consistent for this house, cran/plum/blackberry, black cherry fruit profile, floral nose and on day 2, after about 30 hours uncorked, a touch of pencil lead.
beautiful wine. as is often the case with Rhys, just the right balance/mouthfeel.
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Popped and poured. This is easily discernible as Cali pinot with a note I like to think of cola and juicy pure fruit. Round and open on the palate and enjoyable.
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Rhys @ My Place--Part 3 (My House In The South OC): Listed ABV is 12.8%. Tangy, juicy, blue and red tones fruit, with some herbals influencing the wine, but less so than the 2011 Home that was poured next to it. Medium weighted, with a tangy finish. Both 2011s last night seemed to be ready to drink, I suspect a product of the vintage.
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Clear, medium ruby color. Sappy fig & pomegranate fruit aromas along with piney earth, saffron & paprika spice, dried hibiscus and hints of allspice. Succulent fruit on the palate, darkening with air toward braised fig. Secondary savory and sweet spice notes, and hints of violet and iron. Finesse-driven but with heft, silky throughout. Tangy acidity, fine medium tannins, long finish. Drinking very well, plenty of room for secondary development.
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Dusky ruby. Complex shifting nose of perfumed roses, wild strawberries, mountain heath, black pepper and rich soil. Deeply modulated fruit presence on the palate, from a sweet attack through a very fine acid fruit balance on the middle, to a superbly resounding long coda, an echoing finish that goes on forever. A great food wine at Gunshot restaurant in Atlanta, a great sipping wine the night after. 50 + 17 + 18 + 9 = 94.
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Intense, forward, and juicy with red berries, stems, baking spices, and dried earth. This shows bright acidity and good depth, and finishes with a lovely kiss of pure pinot sap and dusty threads of wood tannin. This still has some corners and edges to work out with additional nuance sure to follow. Recommend hold. Slow ox'ed 6 hours and served alongside an '08 Simon Bize Savigny les Beaune Guettes that showed a strikingly similar flavor profile, though with obvious exceptions to weight and power. We preferred the Bize tonight but this should get there with another 3-5 years.
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Pretty translucent ruby in color, this pinot was still in a primary stage with sappy red berry fruit, sweet baking spice and a deft touch of new oak. Good acid and overall balanced structure too. Nice wine.
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A bit too much stem day one, back in fridge. Day two, fantastic. Wood, perfume, florals, and bright red fruit. Lots of lift on the palate but succulent fruit.
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From memory. Decanted for at least 1.5h. Just remember this as being really beautiful. Red fruits with nice acids, minerals, and some stems. Herbs, earth and a hint of tannins round out the palate. Silky and elegant. Best Family Farm that I've tried to date.
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I knew there was a reason I was buying Rhys, this wine is right in my wheelhouse for great California Pinot. Crunchy red fruits with an underlying spice and earthiness. Completely silky in the mouth. Double decanted 2 hours before drinking, letting the bottle sit open. Paired perfectly with the duck breast and mushroom risotto we had with it.
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Clear, medium ruby color. Clean aromas, high intensity, with primary fig notes and secondary clove, black tea, lavender & crushed stone- youthful/developing. Dry on the palate with medium+ acid, moderate tannin and medium body. Racy and full primary fruit flavors of ripe fig and red apple skin, along with seamless layers of secondary depth- mineral, light florals, cracked pepper, clove, tea leaf- precise and intense. Great presence throughout, with silky airy-fine tannins. Finished dry with moderate length and floral/red fruit notes. This was very lithe and dainty when opened, it light up with just a little bit of air. Outstanding- glad I have another for proper aging.
This was excellent. Quite full and plump, but not overdone. There is a sense of harmony here, with lovely earth and leafy notes to complement the racy cherry and pomegranate fruits. Fresh and lively.
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Pnp from cellar. Nose of dark fruit, spice - opened nicely as came up to temp, yielding more stem, earth and some "funk". Lots of red fruit on palate, plenty of acid and good structure. Still drinking a bit disjointed, acidity and fruit needing to integrate but plenty of stuffing to age well. Will definitely show better with time.
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Nose of red fruit and spice. The stems come through but not as pronounced as in the Bearwallow 2011. On the palate medium acidity with red fruit. Again the stems show but are definitely well integrated with the fruit and are not obtrusive. For my palate could have had a bit more ripeness but this seems to have been a cool vintage. Late addition: Surprised it was a bit hot. Warmed up my chest a bit.
This is an extraordinary California pinot noir. The nose is that effusive ripe pinot that is so sexy. The palate is full and perfectly ripe. The acidity supports this very ripe fruit. The finish is wonderful. This isn't Kevin's/Jeff's best terroir. (That is Skyline to me). It is however one of the most consistent. This is an amazing effort for the vintage to me.
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60% whole cluster. Here, the stems show more than say the 2011 Home, which is 95% whole cluster, yet that wine's stem signature is totally absored in that wine by the fruit, as if the stems were not there. Here, along with that stem signature, are rocky and red juicy fruit. Leaner strawberry, rose water, blueberry and medium weight. From my notes, this one seems to be youthful and needing time, as opposed to the 2011 Bearwallow, which showed very approachable.
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Tasting of 2011 and more at Rhys: Tasted at the winery. Slow-oxed from the day before. Stems show up on the nose. Has some smoky qualities, but not like the wet soot of 2008 anderson valley wines. Some other tasters mentioned peat, like an Islay Scotch.Red fruit. With more air, fruit focuses closer to strawberry (kinda like strawberry strarburst candy which popped in my mind at the time) and the smokiness is a bit less prominent. Bright red fruit in the mouth, very light tannins. Acids on the finish are lengthy. Not sure what I think of this one yet. ~60% whole cluster.
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2/11/2024 - alitman wrote: 89 Points
Muted perfumed nose. The mouth was red fruit with cranberry and cherry predominant with a jammy quality. As with previous TN the length is short, and my feeling is the wine is on the downward arch.
Day 2. Took a turn for the worse overwhelming flavor of smoke, wood, and BBQ not in a good way.
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2/5/2024 - gharter wrote: 86 Points
My last bottle. This just has never wowed me, and this bottle didn't change that. PnP. Aromas of cherry, red licorice, spice and stems. Light in color. Light to medium body with light flavors of red cherry, red licorice, spice, and stems. Very short finish. Good balance. Not what I expect for the price point. There is a reason I quit buying this vineyard. Not my style.
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11/26/2023 - joshdrinkswine2008 wrote: 93 Points
Delightful Pinot - no need to breathe. Rose petals, pine needles, blackberry jam, hints of pine needles and kumquat
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7/29/2023 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Seemingly mature, with a cedar/sandalwood spice note with some tertiary fruit flavors. Palate a little diffuse at this point and without some of the intensity of “better” vintages. Probably at peak I would think.
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9/29/2022 - gharter Likes this wine: 88 Points
PnP. Aromas of cherry, red licorice, spice and stems. Light in color. Light to medium body with light flavors of red cherry, red licorice, spice, and stems. Very short finish. Good, but not as good as expected. May be fading?
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12/12/2021 - xwine wrote:
Nice nose of red fruit and light spice, but the acid was front and center, with the fruit fading quickly. Decent enough, but a bit disappointing in light of expectations.
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12/6/2021 - tbone wrote:
Excellent and well worth the wait.
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12/6/2021 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light and lean; some licorice with raspberry; soft and layered.
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11/17/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote: 87 Points
Certainly enjoyable but also somewhat awkward. Lots of tasty red berry throughout, but a few elements are off center. Whole cluster is too pronounced. A little Brett or otherwise not perfectly pristine.
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10/6/2021 - grafstrb wrote: 92 Points
-- decanted 1 hr. before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over a few hours --
NOSE: high-toned red fruits (red currant and cranberry); hint of orange oil; medium brett.
BODY: bit hazy; rustic dark ruby color of medium depth; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: high acidity; smooth; slightly aged red fruits; no tannin; 12.8% alc. not noticeable; small hint of brett; juicy red berries; very nice. Drink Now and over the near term.
50, 4, 12, 18, 8 = 92
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2/14/2021 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
Brine, Brett, raisin, rhubarb, brown fruits? Weird, bordering on good.
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2/12/2021 - rosenst1 wrote: 94 Points
PnP. Medium dark red. Complex nose of black fruits and spice. Quite a full taste on the palate of dark fruits and a smooth texture followed by a finish which echoes whole cluster influence. This bottle (my last) seems much more fruit driven than the last and is in better balance. Could easily have been 5 years younger and will continue to last for years. One of the few Rhys pinots i've had which was on its plateau of maturity and suggests how long these will live. Excellent.
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2/6/2021 - bullmrkt wrote: 93 Points
James Kim’s prior note is spot-on. Tart cherry and eucalyptus profile, a bit earthy, and nearly perfect acid/fruit balance. Fairly complex. On the more austere end of the spectrum as far as Cali pinots go and I welcome that. Lots of personality!
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10/11/2020 - James Kim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stood up for 2 weeks, decanted off fine sediment for 1.5h then back into bottle. Mellow aromas of red and black cherries, green stems, brown leaves, bark and a bit of earth. Palate was more about tart cherries, bark, eucalyptus bordering on menthol. Nice finish. Med-full bodied with nice acids and complexity. Lovely.
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9/25/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
With Valerie and Katya, drank over about 2 hours. First bottle of this designate from my 11s...
Medium ruby/purple color, translucent. Nose of black raspberry, spice and faint. Lithe and delicate textured palate showing dark cherry, mineral, orange zest, earth/mineral. Nice persistence through mid palate. Light body, finish is medium length but layered.
A lot of personality here, the texture would make you think the fruit would be more subtle. Probably the most expressive of the 2011s
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9/20/2020 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
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7/6/2020 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of the better Rhys pinots I've tasted. Complex and pretty aromas of wild strawberries, red beets, green brush, smoky minerals, and cloves. Delicious to drink now, or save to see what develops. I think I would most enjoy this wine four years from now.
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4/3/2020 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fireworks! This started out fairly dense, but quickly evolved into a high-toned, vibrant, medium-bodied wine, with aromas of leather and violets. Some reductive elements emerged later, not as a defect, but providing a slight framing of astringency.
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1/30/2020 - Cote d'Or wrote:
Tasted over 1.5 hrs
-nearly semi-translucent med red purple mild clearing
-moderately expressive rhubarby new world pinot stems spice
-med acidity, med/med- weight med concentration somewhat diffuse rhubarb red fruit spice, med tannins persist along with some perceptible wood on the finish
-on the lighter side for Rhys, drinking well now
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11/11/2019 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Brick red. Light to medium bodied California PN. Pomegranate, tart raspberry fruit. An herbal, underbrush note lies on the finish. Ok now- don't see much stuffing for this to improve much.
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10/29/2019 - Amerique wrote: 90 Points
Soft, subtle, strawberry fruit, seemed slight thin lacking acid
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8/19/2019 - grafstrb wrote: 89 Points
-- decanted 30 min. before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind for 3 to 4 hours --
NOSE: high-toned; red-fruited; hint of sweet roasted tomato (which I like); expressive; very light spice (possibly oak-derived); not funky or "dark"; bit of a funky something after about 45 minutes open (stinky cheese); not very complex; hint of cumin after 3 hours open.
BODY: slightly hazy light ruby color with light shade of orange at the edges; color is of medium-light to medium depth; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: no tannin; garrigé; light fruits --- nothing stands out; lightly tart; 12.8% alc. not noticeable; I think there may be a tiny hint of brett in here --- nowhere close to upsetting; seems to be very accessible and ready to go; this would need to put on weight to improve from here & the thin edges makes me think that's not going to happen; strikes me as wide open; Drink Now and over the near term.
50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = 89
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7/12/2019 - rosenst1 wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Quite a light red. Savory tea and a slightly smokey note on the nose. On the palate this is dark fruit and spice with some of the whole cluster savory quality on the finish, which is quite long. A deceptive wine which has excellent balance and is all about complexity rather than fruit. This could improve further based on the balance but quite an interesting drink today.
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4/12/2019 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really enjoyed this pinot! Delicious tart cherry, earth and whole cluster notes on the open nose and savory palate with juicy acidity on the moderate finish. Drinking well!
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3/28/2019 - jreis wrote:
Lovely nose of underbrush, tea and brambly blackberry fruit. Just falls flat on the palate - not bad, but not the usual verve I expect from Rhys and nowhere near the complexity of the nose. I don’t think this is going to get better with age.
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12/26/2018 - rama Likes this wine:
Brick red and the nose is more dried flowers than fruit, so I could see how some may see this as premature age. Personally I don't think its that. Family Farm has always been more on the savory side for my palate, and in 2011 I believe that's compounded. It has a sweet herbal nose, the verve of a Nebbiolo, and a lasting saline finish. Lovely now and I'm in no rush to drink my one remaining bottle.
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12/20/2018 - MWymard wrote: 89 Points
It may be past it’s prime. Nose is filled with floral notes. Initial flavor is filled with tobacco, leather, oak, and smokiness. Does finish long and smooth, just not a match for my palate.
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12/4/2018 - tarheel17 wrote:
Seemed tired and old
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8/21/2018 - soyhead wrote:
Bitter / vegetal, root-y, tastes a bit like an after dinner digestif. Almost a chore to drink.
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2/6/2018 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
well made wine, but the flavor profile isn't as appealing to me as the santa cruz mtn wines. there's more savory, earthy, smoky tones going on here. still good.
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2/4/2018 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really solid. Leans toward the tart red fruit end of the spectrum. Fresh and light on the palate, with just a hint of bitterness and spice, presumably from the whole cluster. Holds the finish well. Seems like it could integrate and add further complexity with time.
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1/22/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cola; soft and elegant; velvet; balance; earthy sweet cherry raspberry; soft and long.
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12/26/2017 - tarheel17 wrote: flawed
My bottle didn't taste anything like these notes. Flawed somehow. Maybe corked? I'm horribly insensitive to TCA, so I can't say for sure. But there was something off.
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11/6/2017 - Jahull03 wrote:
definitely the best bottle i've had from this vineyard. echoing others below, this bottle is showing a bit of age and maturity - seems to have settled into a good spot. I've found in the past that FF vineyard shows tart red cranberry - in this case, the acidity is still there but the palate has deepened and darkened. Med-body, as is consistent for this house, cran/plum/blackberry, black cherry fruit profile, floral nose and on day 2, after about 30 hours uncorked, a touch of pencil lead.
beautiful wine. as is often the case with Rhys, just the right balance/mouthfeel.
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10/12/2017 - EhrlichDY wrote:
Popped and poured. This is easily discernible as Cali pinot with a note I like to think of cola and juicy pure fruit. Round and open on the palate and enjoyable.
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10/1/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Rhys @ My Place--Part 3 (My House In The South OC): Listed ABV is 12.8%. Tangy, juicy, blue and red tones fruit, with some herbals influencing the wine, but less so than the 2011 Home that was poured next to it. Medium weighted, with a tangy finish. Both 2011s last night seemed to be ready to drink, I suspect a product of the vintage.
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8/5/2017 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Clear, medium ruby color. Sappy fig & pomegranate fruit aromas along with piney earth, saffron & paprika spice, dried hibiscus and hints of allspice. Succulent fruit on the palate, darkening with air toward braised fig. Secondary savory and sweet spice notes, and hints of violet and iron. Finesse-driven but with heft, silky throughout. Tangy acidity, fine medium tannins, long finish. Drinking very well, plenty of room for secondary development.
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1/6/2017 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dusky ruby. Complex shifting nose of perfumed roses, wild strawberries, mountain heath, black pepper and rich soil. Deeply modulated fruit presence on the palate, from a sweet attack through a very fine acid fruit balance on the middle, to a superbly resounding long coda, an echoing finish that goes on forever. A great food wine at Gunshot restaurant in Atlanta, a great sipping wine the night after. 50 + 17 + 18 + 9 = 94.
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11/24/2016 - Redguy wrote:
Intense, forward, and juicy with red berries, stems, baking spices, and dried earth. This shows bright acidity and good depth, and finishes with a lovely kiss of pure pinot sap and dusty threads of wood tannin. This still has some corners and edges to work out with additional nuance sure to follow. Recommend hold. Slow ox'ed 6 hours and served alongside an '08 Simon Bize Savigny les Beaune Guettes that showed a strikingly similar flavor profile, though with obvious exceptions to weight and power. We preferred the Bize tonight but this should get there with another 3-5 years.
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2/13/2016 - wineaux2 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pretty translucent ruby in color, this pinot was still in a primary stage with sappy red berry fruit, sweet baking spice and a deft touch of new oak. Good acid and overall balanced structure too. Nice wine.
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2/8/2016 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 93 Points
A bit too much stem day one, back in fridge. Day two, fantastic. Wood, perfume, florals, and bright red fruit. Lots of lift on the palate but succulent fruit.
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12/5/2015 - Empirate Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent balance, restrained but concentrated on the palate. Loved it after a decent decant (3+ hours). Expect to improve.
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11/1/2015 - Matt T wrote: 90 Points
Lots of red fruit here with some stem and good acid. Hold
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9/28/2015 - James Kim wrote: 92 Points
From memory. Decanted for at least 1.5h. Just remember this as being really beautiful. Red fruits with nice acids, minerals, and some stems. Herbs, earth and a hint of tannins round out the palate. Silky and elegant. Best Family Farm that I've tried to date.
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8/29/2015 - Wine Sparty wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Very nice cherry aroma and taste, with a bit of tartness.
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2/22/2015 - GrapesRGreat wrote: 93 Points
I knew there was a reason I was buying Rhys, this wine is right in my wheelhouse for great California Pinot. Crunchy red fruits with an underlying spice and earthiness. Completely silky in the mouth. Double decanted 2 hours before drinking, letting the bottle sit open. Paired perfectly with the duck breast and mushroom risotto we had with it.
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12/12/2014 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Clear, medium ruby color. Clean aromas, high intensity, with primary fig notes and secondary clove, black tea, lavender & crushed stone- youthful/developing. Dry on the palate with medium+ acid, moderate tannin and medium body. Racy and full primary fruit flavors of ripe fig and red apple skin, along with seamless layers of secondary depth- mineral, light florals, cracked pepper, clove, tea leaf- precise and intense. Great presence throughout, with silky airy-fine tannins. Finished dry with moderate length and floral/red fruit notes. This was very lithe and dainty when opened, it light up with just a little bit of air. Outstanding- glad I have another for proper aging.
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11/23/2014 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
This was excellent. Quite full and plump, but not overdone. There is a sense of harmony here, with lovely earth and leafy notes to complement the racy cherry and pomegranate fruits. Fresh and lively.
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9/22/2014 - Chris D Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pnp from cellar. Nose of dark fruit, spice - opened nicely as came up to temp, yielding more stem, earth and some "funk". Lots of red fruit on palate, plenty of acid and good structure. Still drinking a bit disjointed, acidity and fruit needing to integrate but plenty of stuffing to age well. Will definitely show better with time.
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9/21/2014 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
At Smoke, Oil, Salt--blind: Red Pinot fruits, very tannic, structured, good complexity.
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9/21/2014 - scorrea Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of red fruit and spice. The stems come through but not as pronounced as in the Bearwallow 2011. On the palate medium acidity with red fruit. Again the stems show but are definitely well integrated with the fruit and are not obtrusive. For my palate could have had a bit more ripeness but this seems to have been a cool vintage.
Late addition: Surprised it was a bit hot. Warmed up my chest a bit.
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7/8/2014 - Tetherton Likes this wine: 92 Points
We had our first Rhys pinot over the weekend! It was wonderful. Filled with fruit and sufficient spice. It was "lean" and light but very flavorful!!
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7/3/2014 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Dense, dark red fruit with smokey flavors, excellent wine
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6/15/2014 - soyhead wrote:
Nose - root beer
Mouth - clove accentuated sappy berry, yet overall very clean wine. Concentrated and true to varietal form . Nice.
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5/26/2014 - DCornutt wrote:
This is an extraordinary California pinot noir. The nose is that effusive ripe pinot that is so sexy. The palate is full and perfectly ripe. The acidity supports this very ripe fruit. The finish is wonderful.
This isn't Kevin's/Jeff's best terroir. (That is Skyline to me). It is however one of the most consistent. This is an amazing effort for the vintage to me.
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4/10/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
60% whole cluster. Here, the stems show more than say the 2011 Home, which is 95% whole cluster, yet that wine's stem signature is totally absored in that wine by the fruit, as if the stems were not there. Here, along with that stem signature, are rocky and red juicy fruit. Leaner strawberry, rose water, blueberry and medium weight. From my notes, this one seems to be youthful and needing time, as opposed to the 2011 Bearwallow, which showed very approachable.
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4/9/2013 - jakuda wrote:
Tasting of 2011 and more at Rhys: Tasted at the winery. Slow-oxed from the day before. Stems show up on the nose. Has some smoky qualities, but not like the wet soot of 2008 anderson valley wines. Some other tasters mentioned peat, like an Islay Scotch.Red fruit. With more air, fruit focuses closer to strawberry (kinda like strawberry strarburst candy which popped in my mind at the time) and the smokiness is a bit less prominent. Bright red fruit in the mouth, very light tannins. Acids on the finish are lengthy. Not sure what I think of this one yet. ~60% whole cluster.
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