PnP. Medium light greenish gold. Nose of citrus and mineral. On the palate this is more orchard fruit driven with a lovely roundness to the fruit and finishes with good acidity. The balance is spot-on; would be more likely to think Old World given the restraint and lack of oak influence. One of the best Rhys Chards I've tasted. Will last a few more years but likely at peak.
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Last had this wine about 4.5 yrs ago, this wine is shining and quite nice. Orchard fruits, some citrus, roasted nuts, and sage. Nicely supportive acidity, drink through 2028+.
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Last bottle, still charming taut and energetic. After drinking a lot of Chablis lately I was really surprised at the richness of this wine. Pretty tasty.
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From 500mL bottle. Leaking likely due to faulty cork. Despite the loose cork and previous seepage, the color was a medium shade of yellow, appropriate for its age, with no signs of premature oxidation on the nose or palate. Flinty nose with quince and pear notes. Burgundian in style, dry almost austere finish, clean and subdued oak regimen, laser-like focus. Shows notes of seashell, lemon, ginger and apple skin on the palate. To my taste, among the best in CA chard.
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Cork was loose and the screw simply pushed the cork into the bottle. Somewhat advanced (no surprise), some lemon notes. Good structure, but hard to really evaluate under the circumstances.
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Best cork I've had on a 2013 Rhys Chardonnay; this did not have signs that it had soaked through to the top. And the wine itself showed as well as it always has. Deep, full aromas with citrus oil, nut, and cream. The palate is full and rich, with oily viscosity and zingy acidic snap. The long finish is focused on the center palate and has waves of flavor in retroolefaction. Really nice, and as compelling a bottle of Alpine Chardonnay as I've had from any vintage. My last one, but I wish I had more. I have not had any bottles that seemed to be prematurely advanced.
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Popped and poured. Remarkably youthful, fresh. Cool nose of white flowers, lime and a little marine comes through. The wine is tightly coiled, energetic, showing little oak and decent length. Chablis like in style. May get even better in time.
After three days in the fridge this is still is pretty good shape.
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Decanted and took 1h for the wine to start opening up. From memory of wine 2h after decanting. Aromas of just ripe apples, unripe pears, nice green herbs, minerals, and oak spice. Palate is similar to aromas with a nice mineral streak and some vanilla toward the back end. Medium-full vody w nice acids to balance the fruit. The oak is definitely there and hasn't completely integrated in. Reminescent of a 1er cru Meursault in terms of richness and body. I think with time, the wine will integrate even further. Despite this, there is a lot to enjoy to now. Open next bottle in 3-5 yrs.
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Gorgeous nose with green apple, lemon, white pepper, toast, minerals, and butter notes. It’s rich, yet well balanced. On the palate, there’s lovely acidity along with notes of lemon zest, lime, chalk, apple, and a slightly bitter note. Long finish. This is drinking like a Grand Cru Burgundy, impeccably balanced with the oak well integrated, plenty of acidity, fruit, and power. Wow!
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Gorgeous pale golden. Fancy vanilla aromas. Smells like springtime with tiny wildflowers and a small bit of lemon. Fresh baked brioche palate with incredible density but still so delicate. Super long finish
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I pulled this one out early because the cork seemed distended. The cork was wet but the wine is fine -- slightly spritzy at first, lean and acidic, but with great intensity, structure and complexity. There is a slight chalkiness, and to the extent that it is fruity, the fruits are green apples and pears. But mostly, there is a savory minerality, mouth-watering, with a nutty aftertaste. This is like a high-quality Chablis. It is delicious now, but it still has a long way to go.
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While putting bottles into the new cellar after moving, I saw this was leaking and decided to open one to check on it. Drinking well, but saw here that this is obviously a prevalent issue with this bottling.
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-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 2 to 3 hours --
NOSE: bright; light to medium-light oak; expressive.
BODY: leaker, with a slightly pushed cork (this has been stored perfectly since I took receipt of it directly from winery upon release); medium yellow color --- does not appear advanced; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: apple-pear combo, but clearly Chard. (i.e.: not going to mistake it for a Chenin); 13.5% alc. is well-hidden; moderately dense, but fruit certainly seems ripe; some smoky mineral; acidity seems to be medium+; a bit loose; not as good as the bottle from Nov. '20, but still quite nice. Drinking well now.
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The cork on this bottle did not seem as problematic as other 2013s. Soaked halfway up, bit the seal was tight still. No evidence of leakage. And the bottle showed very similar to my note from 18 months ago, principally in that it took the wine a good two hours to open up and become more interesting. The material seems very good here, and were it not for the cork concerns I would say this needs time.
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Served with broiled lobster tails at Christmas dinner. The pairing was spot on...
Nose is showing lots of lemon-vanilla oak notes that seem well integrated. Very full and oily nose. Palate is full, very rich with an oily sensation on the tongue that is quite nice. The flavors are lemon oil, with a touch of vanilla. Very well integrated oak and the wine is at its peak for my palate. The pairing with dinner was outstanding and worth a perfect score as a whole. Would buy again.
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A surprising 92 as there were visible signs of leakage and the foil was ballooned outwards. Cork was in moderate condition but really soft. The wine was tasty, and had not turned the corner towards the toastier versions of Rhys that I've had lately. I pulled my 2 remaining bottles of this (that also showed signs of seepage) from storage so and hopefully will enjoy them over the holidays.
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This is the highest rating I have given a white wine. The wine is dinking so well right now. The first bottle in 2017 showed so much promise and I feel like that promise has been realized. I am not sure I will ever drink a young Rhys chardonnay again. I hope all their vintages age like this! The nose is full of rich candied lemon and pineapple aromas. The palate is of candied lemon rind, pineapple and papaya leading to a lemon mousse finish that is very fruity. This a wonderful expression of New World Chardonnay that takes on just enough Old World character to make it fit in both categories. The acidity is still very high, so would be perfect for parings with seafood, or dishes with white sauces, but to pick-up the nuances, drink this wine on its own and find a new flavor with every sip. The mouth-feel is fully developed. The viscosity is like melted butter (where did that come from?), developing since the first bottle in 2017. This may mature well in the next couple years, but drinking now will not disappoint.
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I like this a lot. Burgundy vibes, really nice ripe tropical fruits, round with nice acidity. Too bad more California whites don’t taste like this! Very nice.
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My last bottle and the best yet. Unlike most California Chardonnays, these need time to come together. Pnp. Very aromatic with citrus, tropical fruits, lemon, pineapple, and a hint of minerality. Loaded with citrus flavors with lemon, pineapple, mineral, tropical fruits. Slight oak noted. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish. Really good now, but would not worry about holding at least another 5+ years.
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Another leaky cork, but this chard continues to drink beautifully! Fragrant nose and lively palate with citrus, mineral, and vanilla notes with refreshing acidity on the long finish.
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Too young: Aromatically muted, high acidity (not immediately apparent, but having a cumulative impact). Very dry, with a smell of baked pears, and restrained mineral flavors. There is a lot here, but it is not yet fully revealed. More soft fruitiness on the second day, though still restrained.
Counterintuitively, I would suggest that this bottle is slightly more advanced than the 2012 Horseshoe Chardonnay, and slightly less advanced than the 2014 Alpine Chardonnay.
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It just keeps getting better. Starts with citrus, tropical fruits, lemon, pineapple, a hint of mineral on the nose. Lots of flavor with lemon, pineapple, mineral, tropical fruits. Slight oak noted. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish
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Aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, lemon, pineapple, a hint of mineral. Minimal oak on the nose. The flavors mirror the nose with lemon, pineapple, mineral, tropical fruits. LIght on the oak. The Citrus dominate, starting to show more complexity. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish
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Leaky cork, but this chard is drinking beautifully! Fragrant nose and lively palate with citrus, mineral, and vanilla notes with vibrant acidity on the moderate long finish.
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A terrific bottle (and I’ve had some variation) with full, intense aromas of ripe orchard fruit, florals and mineral. Palate has bright, taut crunchy acidity and balancing plush fruit. Long, mineral and light honey finish. At peak.
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Quality wine. Crisp lemon and other citrus notes. Slightly nutty finish. Very clean and energetic, not heavy or flabby like many ca chard’s. Served a bit colder than id typically serve...around 45f
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Pulled w/o consulting CT and my previous note which said to hold 4-9 years 2 years ago, based on phenolic substance and fresh acids. If anything, the limestone/shale minerality was more pronounced this time, esp. on the nose, with lemony citrus and a bit of butterscotch/spice, hazelnut, and subtle stone fruit. The palate is showing less fruit character on the back end, and less edge/definition such that the finish feels shorter, but there's a mineral echo that lasts forever. Overall, I agree that this has lost some energy in the past couple of years, but it is not really a lesser wine so much as an older one. It performed well at the table with chestnut soup, and with a rich crab risotto with truffle and lemon, served @~cellar temp, and I think a younger or too cold Chardonnay from anywhere would have competed more than complemented.This Alpine might be better still in a couple more years hoping for similar mineral effusiveness and a touch less oak. It's maturing a bit faster than I thought but that's what it's doing.
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Honeyed orchard fruit with some mineral notes that add complexity. Palate has solid balance of fruit and acidity, though the fruit is showing tired with less brightness and more honeying than prior bottles. i think this is fading.
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nice subdued nose of some white flower and white berries, a bit rounder than expected, predominant oak (maybe needs more time?) Not as good as expected. Night 2 - Wow, it didnt expect this much improvement! as last night was a Lack Luster performance, there was still over half hte bottle left. Bang! tonight much leaner ( all flabbiness gone), much more zip with a beautiful clean long finish, some sour-ish lemon... much improved!
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-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 3 hours --
NOSE: youthful, high-toned aromatics; mineral/lemon/oak mixture; medium+ richness; a touch "green"; quite expressive and pleasant.
BODY: signs of pushed cork; foil removal confirms prior leakage; this wine has been stored perfectly since I received it from the winery, so I assume this is how it arrived to me and I simply didn't notice at the time; the only reason I pulled this wine for drinking now was the pushed cork that I noticed when rummaging around at offsite; youthful color; medium bodied.
TASTE: well, this most certainly is *not* pre-moxed or heat damaged; lots of mineral; medium richness; high acidity is a bit screechy; excellent; mineral-dominant with a good amount of fruit; salinic; alc. not noticeable; I would probably have a very hard time not calling Burg. if this was presented to me blind (Puligny). Excellent wine that has room for further improvement, but I have zero regrets about having opened this now.
50, 5, 13, 18, 9 = 95
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Served with chicken scaloppini, broccoli, roast potatoes. Cork was wet all the way through. Good looking yellow/gold, enticing to the eye. Lemon, peach, pear, nice nose. Acid present but not dominating. Very smooth, almost (but not quite) buttery. Very good, but expectations were high, and not quite reached.
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Combines a restrained, honeydew/apple profile with a lot of oak-derived creamy vanilla and sesame seed. There's plenty of acid and some nice mineral bite but it's a weird profile to match the restrained fruit with all the oak. I like this less than I did a few years ago, when I think the fruit had more intensity. Not sure where this going.
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I had coravined to sample before taking as a preamble to a 2013 Cali Pinot Noir wine dinner, and decided upon a quick taste to pull the cork and double decant the wine. Although the cork may have shown some creeping moisture, it was sound, and no signs of compromise to the quality of the wine, which was outstanding. The nose is largely citrus/minerals, with Meyer lemon, tart pear, jonquil or other yellow and white floral aromatics, slate, and brine. Much less oak on the nose than a companion 2013 Horseshoe Vyd that a friend was bringing. The palate fleshed out after decanting, and was fresh, racy lemon curd and crisp apple, with coastal mineral substrate. Delicious and delightful, really more rewarding than pretty much all the dozen Pinots. 94-95 As good or better second night.
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Tasted blind. Really interesting nose of apples, peach, and meyer lemon. Great acidity with lemon, tart fruit, and quite creamy texture. Long finish. Very good wine, probably drinking close to peak. I actually called Rhys Chardonnay on this :)
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Time has been good to this wine. Really starting to show really well. Citrus and tropical fruits, lemon, banana, pineapple, a hint of mineral. Minimal oak on the nose. The flavors mirror the nose with layers of flavor. The Citrus dominate, starting to show more complexity. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish.
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Cork was soaked to nearly the top, but wine seemed unaffected. Very rich, with more toasty oak than I would have thought. Good, don’t know where this one is headed.
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Cork soaked to the top, some signs of slight leakage. Medium lemon color. When first poured, this was expressive but not particularly interesting. Aromas of lemon curd, but not much more. The palate was medium full with good concentration and nice zingy freshness. It was nice but not complex at all. After an hour or two open, however, some more complexity emerged, including some herbal notes and a pungent minerality on the nose. The palate began to have more delineation, and the finish also proved long, unfolding the herbal and mineral notes from the nose. I preferred a recent '13 Horseshoe Chard for its cooler, lighter profile and for its abundant non-fruit notes. The Alpine shows a little young to my taste, and I feel it has aging potential, but the status of the '13 corks concerns me. I'll be opening my other bottles sooner rather than later, but I would recommend a decant.
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This bottle maybe a tad better than the one I had a few years ago. Still holding up very well and showing little to no age. Bright acidity with lemon and slight piney notes.
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Popped and poured. Rocking good nose spicy citrus and Meyer lemon. Well balanced palate, good weight and acidity leads to a lovely drink that was consumed rapidly.
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Warning! My cork was wet through and compromised. The wine itself was intact but no way it would have made it another couple of years. This is the 2nd Rhys I have had where the cork failed.
Friendsgiving Dinner (Riverwoods, IL): From magnum. Floral start with lemon peel, lemon curd and apple aromas and flavors. New World richness to start, Older World minerally textures middle through long finish. Stayed just as engaging when re-visited 2+ hours later.
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Lots of pear, apple, lemon, hint of honey on the nose. Medium weight palate with good intensity, lovely balance, and more tart lemon and apple. Long tart finish. Appealing Cal chard that speaks to place, sunshine and varietal. Very good. Edged slightly by the 14.
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Rhys @ My Place--Part 4 (My House): Bottle was opened yesterday for our Rhys event. Retasting 24 hrs later, and also alongside the 2013 Horseshoe Chard from yesterday, I do prefer the Alpine. The balance on the Alpine is better, the intensity of the fruit is not competing with the oak. Instead, the bright green apple is joined by flint, some fennel and the acidity of lemon, with a long finish. Intensity, structure, medium weight--it's all nicely built here. I do think there is aging potential here but I also like the way the wine is showing now.
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Bright and energetic, with notes of leesy lemon oil and cut flowers. Great tension. Held up next to some pretty fine Meursault. I don't see this making to the 2026 CT outside drinking window but maybe others with more experience can comment.
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Pure and focused with really nice texture. Bright and zesty lemon, honeydew, white stone fruits. Acid is pretty high but marries well into the wine. Some subtle oak adds complexity. Only concern is that its little choppy on the finish, high so2 potentially??
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No formal notes so from memory of dinner last night.
Nose has something secondary but I can't quite place it. Notes of tropical fruit, lemon and honey abound on the palate. Well-balanced and an impressively long finish that goes on and on.
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Had a bottle a few months ago, and it was so good that I had to open my last one. It is really quite stunning, with pinpoint balance or fruit, oak and acid. I could probably drink an entire magnum by myself if I had enough seafood to get the job done.
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13.5% alcohol. It might be an arguable point if Rhys makes the best Chardonnay in California, but the winery certainly is a contender. This is still youthful, with a medium yellow color but a lovely bouquet of green apple, a touch of citrus, lemon, and well-managed oak. In the mouth, incredibly vibrant and delicious, packed with concentrated fruit but not heavy in the least. Plenty of acidity and a long, slightly tart finish keep everything focused. Superb. A
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Still pretty primary, in fact, to me came off as a bit simple. Muted lemon and mineral notes veering towards saline. A touch of mint. Precise lines, but never came together for me, am hopeful that further patience will be rewarded.
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1st of 2 bottles. This is insane juice. Aromas of lemon and lime, green apple, inflections of salinity, on top of slate. The palate is enveloping, with flavors of tart green apple and lemon curd, some brine notes, drizzled with rich honey over slate rocks and a hint of vanilla. This is a complex and delicious wine that displays a Meursault-like richness and flavor profile. There is a long and saline/slate finish, with nervy acidity that puckers the jaws and begs for the next sip. One of the best domestic Chards I have had the pleasure of drinking. Delicious.
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Light gold color. Enticing aromatics covering the spectrum of pithy citrus fruit, crushed sandstone, acacia flower, old cedar, hazelnut, gingerbread and savory spices. Rich texture on the palate unwrapping layers of luscious citrus fruit along a melange of secondary notes consistent with the aromatics. Very nice density and weight. Give it a little air and the acid integrates beautifully. Finishes with fine structure and excellent length. Very early secondary stage, still very youthful, showing beautifully.
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Spicy, packed with citrus, then transitioning to a more tropical fruit expression in the mid-palate, this is drinking very well right now. I had the bottle of the course of two nights, and it held steady, so no rush if you can't get to it, but if you can, do. It's delicious. now.
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Honeyed and buttery nose, but tight and Burgundian and delicious. This has filled out and become better with age. I’ve been drinking this too young! Drink or hold.
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Opened on a Wednesday night to accompany some Rosemary Grilled Chicken. Upon opening, it had a fairly fierce grapefruit nose, reminiscent of a New Zealand SB, with a crisp wet stone/minerality on the palate. After an hour, it had settled down quite a bit, displaying bread, lanolin, vanilla, and slightly nutty notes on the nose, with much more moderate citrus and oily nut flavors. The following day, the fruit was more tropical (papaya?) and the texture more rounded. The finish lasted almost a full minute. All in all, I really liked it, although ar first it was almost a bit too Chablis-like for me. I have another bottle, and will wait a few more years to see if the crisp acidity tones down a bit.
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We opened this, our last, a bit earlier than we would have, because like the Horseshoe 2013, the capsule was noticeably bulging. On removal of the capsule, we saw that the cork was only slightly protruding — albeit quite wet. And it was a real squeaker as the screw went down. The removed cork was softer than normal. Yet like the 2013 Horseshoe, the wine seemed just fine over the course of three days, and not substantially different from our note in February 2016. Dramatic, brilliant, and again with fantastic acidity. Still, after two in a row now — from different bottlings — I’d be concerned about cork issues with these white 2013s .... (And it makes me think about checking the red 2013s, which we’ve left sleeping ....)
The other tasting notes have captured this wine. Simply put, it is the nectar of the Gods!! And, I just discovered there are no more 2013 Rhys chardonnays in the cellar. Don't know how this happened....
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Excellent. Obviously high-class. I love how this wine has such focused lemon and minerals, without veering too much into tropical fruits, while at the same time having serious depth and richness. This seems like it could only improve with age.
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This was a pretty good chard. Banana and tropicals on the nose took a backseat to lemon and citrus notes on the palate. A bit of sweet spice rounded out the finish. Good acidity too. Glad Rhys has dialed back the oak on this wine.
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Pure vanilla bean and a measured amount of fruit that is seamlessly integrated with just the right amount of lemony brightness --all it resulting in a refreshing and lightly structured body. Nice to see a winemaker produce a chardonnay that tastes like one without piling on the wood and sappy fruit.
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No formal notes. Classic Alpine shale, barely ripe nectarine, meyer lemon, a touch of mango and brown spice, super expressive and long. Outstanding now, but aim to spread out the remaining bottles over 4-9 years. Opened and tasted 1.5 hours before decanting for 30 minutes before service.
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A really nice Rhys Chardonnay. The second glass was better than the first as I think it needed a bit of air in its youth. Lemon and some tropical fruits are the primary flavor profile along with a good bit of acid, which I liked. The nose is very expressive and maybe the wine's best feature. A few more years to round it out a bit is the plan for the rest of them in my cellar.
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Excellent California Chardonnay, the ‘13 Rhys Alpine is bracingly crisp and citric, like a fine Chablis. Minimal oak influence. Very young of course, but if it develops more texture and complexity it could even become superb. Impressive.
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Very nice bottle of SC Mts. Chardonnay but not at the level of other vintages. Lovely nose of bright lemon curd and slight piney overtones. Crisp acidity in the mouth with a follow-up of the citrus fruit and some oak. Still young. Not as mineral driven as other vintages.
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Pop and pour. Very aromatic from the start. Very complex nose with citrus and tropical fruits, lemon, banana, pineapple, a hint of mineral. Minimal oak on the nose. The flavors mirror the nose with layers of flavor. Still a little simple on the palate for now. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish. Didn't have with food, but would pair well with a lighter seafood. I think the wine would get lost with a heavy dish. Good now, but the best is still a few years away.
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California Chardonnay (Trent's): I brought this as I love Rhys Chards. Good to try this blind though. Light gold in color. This is very tight. It took a while to coax much off the nose. Some lemon cream. A couple people mentioned gun flint, but I just had a hard time getting much off of it. On the palate this is tart in a good way. Lemon candy. Turns to green apple. As it warms almost a sweet spice on the finish. This kept improving all night long, but this bottle needs time or air at this point. While it showed very well, I had hoped for better. $75
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The nose is complex with citrus and tropical fruits... candied lemon, bright fresh lemon, banana and pineapple. There is a tinge of alcohol and a kiss of minerality too. The palate is more straight-forward. Fresh lemon, bitter lemon rind leading to a lemon curd finish that has a touch of sweetness. The main impression here is of an understated wine, the nuances of which will not be experienced with food. I think the mouth-feel is still developing, so with very high acidity, I would let this rest a few more years to achieve the best tasting experience. This drinks very well now as a quality Cali Chard, but if you are willing to wait, I think this will mature to add another point or two to the rating.
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Very Chablis-like. Pale lemon. Very mineral nose, with wet stone and chalk. Yellow Apple, lemon and a little white peach that betrays its CA roots. Mineral palate,medium+ finish.
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Followed over 3 hrs. This is bigger than I'm used to from Rhys, though it's tasty and drinking well now. I don't think this is a wine for long-term aging.
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A sharp Chablis-style CA Chardonnay that offers more acidity than charm. I am huge fan of Rhys's Pinots, but this is my second Rhys Chardonnay that was just too tart and angular to be enjoyable, at least for me. Light yellow in color, light in body, nose of lemon and salt water. Tastes of green apple, lemon peel, orange rind, grapefruit, and steel, with a piercingly acidic and dry finish. 13.5% alcohol. I know one man's tartness is another man's purity, and I wanted to like this - I just didn't. It's well made and has plenty of life ahead of it, so hopefully my other bottle will be better in another year or two.
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Stunning, orchard fruit, boatload of minerals, chalky, a little masonry, reduction, with a kiss of well-integrated oak. Silky, restrained but intense at the same time, long long finish. With Sockeye wild salmon.
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Complex nose of lemon oil, lemongrass, white pepper, mint, and roasted cinnamon. I like the lemon on the palate and the way all the aromas continue to assert themselves. Pretty great.
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Beautifully made. Slate, warm lemon, lemon curd, a little warming vanilla in the end. A touch of oak rounds it out nicely. Great mouthfeel and long finish. It has the finesse reminiscent of a good white burgundy in a warmer year, but it is still clearly from California. I understand the Chablis comparison, but it is a bit bigger than a typical Chablis - and this isn't to say this is a bad thing, but I see this wine being a fuller version of a premier/grand cru. Plus, you avoid all those nasty premox issues.
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Beautiful nose, very complex with white pepper, citrus, spice and a limestone chalky element. Well structured, with restrained acid, deep and lively palate with a little spice on the back end. Really clean with deep flavors but nice lift. Juicy finish, great balance. I need more of this.
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Hillside, Pride, Myriad, Montelena, Rhys, Peter Michael, Yquem (Cleveland Heights): Best showing yet for this Chard. It was great drinking this next to the PM for a contrast in styles. It is still so young and in need of time to open. I would recommend a three hour decant if drinking now. Gold green in color. The nose is gorgeous with steely minerals, slight gun powder, lots of green apples, some lemon curd and vanilla. On the palate, this has pin point acidity. Razor shop. In a sense like a great Chablis but then the fruit has a ripeness to it that doesn't over power the wine but says its from California. Deep and layered. Red apples, some lemon and vanilla and lots of minerals on the palate. Long finish. Brilliant wine, but I need to hold these a bit longer (although its my wifes favorite white).
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Both mineral-driven and rich. Like a cross between Chablis and Montrachet? Lacks the pure, pronounced lemon mesas of the Rhys chardonnays I've tasted from Horseshoe Vineyard (2009, 2010, 2012). More minerality instead. Much less oak. The Horseshoe Vineyard wines were more impressive to me, though this wine is good too.
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Cavs-GSW Pregame (Paul B. comes to CLE) (Somewhere on E. 4th street): This bottle was opened at 1:00 and allowed to breathe for 3 hours. Then put in the fridge, still open, for another hour, before being recorked and taken to the restaurant. Great showing and needs every bit of that air and more (or better yet, cellaring). Green-gold in color. The nose is great with grapefruit, vanilla and lemon curd. On the palate, real depth here but so precise. Some vanilla/spice showing but not obtrusive and the fruit is certainly dominant. Great balance. Wonderful, slightly oily texture. Long finish. Great showing, but I need to save other bottles for a few years at least.
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Hyper-delicious and a dead ringer for a ripe, well-balanced White Burg 1er from a top producer. This has beautiful, dense fruit, and serious dry extract and minerality. Superbly balanced with just a touch of oak. A real winner from Rhys.
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Either my fragile palate is changing more or Rhys has dialed back the new oak, or both. Probably doesn't matter, as when this is drank at the temp I like for chard (chilled but not cold), this is terrific. Slate, tons of lemon, shades of apple and some vanilla that comes through as it warms. Even some saline in the finish too when that temp is just right. Paired this with a sea bass ceviche, that was dressed in lime, light cilantro, a touch of soy and it just made for a smashing match. A day later, sitting here on a warm afternoon enjoying the rest of this, paired with just a handful of lightly salted almonds. This is pretty delicious, shaped by some new oak that I didn't taste like I do today. Together, they create a lemon tart kind of experience. But, what puts that quality in check is the lemon peel acidity, which is still taut and lively. Where this wine will shine is with a broad diversity of palates--the savory saline and lemon, yet the moderate sexy tones of the oak and fruit doing their thing. One of these days, I'd like to see the Rhys team do something with old oak and see what we get, as I for one would line up to try that and see what they crafted. In the end, this is terrific Alpine for a wide array of tastes.
Courtesy of tlv, this was gorgeous. Aromas of lemon, toast, vanilla fluff and orchard fruit with a flinty/smoky background note. Full-bodied and layered. Citrus, apple and marshmallow flavors wash over the palate. Balanced. Long finish.
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Medium golden. A significant hit of savory oak was a bit disconcerting at first; then we just accepted it. Bright, balanced, with almost bracing acidity. Minerals and earth. This was dramatic from the start, and only gained over four nights. Wow.
So this is what all the fuss is about! Reminded me of a solid white burg or high end Chablis, with intense citrus and mineral dominating. Very high-toned and complete. Glad I have one more to drink.
Very big oaky nose of vanilla. Yes, on the tongue I get the vanilla, and, maybe caramel. Citrus fruit flavors come with concomitant hit of refreshing acid. Quite spritely on the back of the palate—my guess is that is coming from the acid. Winner, winner.
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This is really good, a ringer for a top-class White Burgundy. Lots of ripe honeydew and green apple fruit, a good dollop of fancy oak, good density, lots of acid, lots of mineral bite, really good length. Excellent.
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Loved it....great mellow butterscotch flavor with light lemon zest....hint of polished river rock for some undertones of minerality... Very smooth, long finish......
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Dinner at the nieghbors (The M's): Very tight and needs time. As it unwinds in the glass, it is a beautiful wine. Light golden in color. The nose has lemon and slight floral notes. With air, the lemon broadens and some vanilla emerges. Great texture. This is tightly packed. Very intense. Lemon and vanilla on the palate with great acidity. Long finish. Worked great with food, but I would decant or better yet, wait. Room for improvement for sure.
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Drank along side the horseshoe. Natural successor of the '12 alpine and very consistent taste. Good both now and great growth potential. Color with bright gold/dust (not bright as the horseshoe). Very floral nose from pnp. For those who like their chard very 'fresh' (aka young), it is a natural winner. For those who prefer to age their chard, this one has the potential for wonderful aging. Medium plus finish (longer than the horseshoe). Great with all dishes in the meal. Vote of the bottle- first one to be emptied. 93+. Next time, I'd give it more decanting and not have at PnP (though consumed over two hours)
(Edited two days later-- might have been fair to say 94 but I will uphold the initial this time)
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It starts out modestly, but the complexity and persistence is amazing, with pure lemon and minerals and razor sharp acidity, it is very nice now but really needs more time.
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Drank alongside all other '13 Rhys in 375ml. For chardonnay, there was no clear "winner" between horseshoe and alpine. Alpine was more precise, expressed more minerality and possessed more of a saline element, all without any noticeable oak - in fact, one person in the group asked if rhys oaked this chardonnay at all. Will need quite a bit of time for the complexities to unravel, though this is incredible right now and will need to be literally locked up to avoid drinking too soon.
2/1/2024 - rosenst1 wrote: 93 Points
PnP. Medium light greenish gold. Nose of citrus and mineral. On the palate this is more orchard fruit driven with a lovely roundness to the fruit and finishes with good acidity. The balance is spot-on; would be more likely to think Old World given the restraint and lack of oak influence. One of the best Rhys Chards I've tasted. Will last a few more years but likely at peak.
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10/24/2023 - drrobvino wrote: 93 Points
Last had this wine about 4.5 yrs ago, this wine is shining and quite nice.
Orchard fruits, some citrus, roasted nuts, and sage.
Nicely supportive acidity, drink through 2028+.
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7/30/2023 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Slightly flinty, Meyer lemon, med body and med + avid, balanced
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7/26/2023 - BigTex22 wrote:
Cork showed signs of leakage. Tastes a little off but still developing. Will let it warm up a bit and hope it settles down.
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7/13/2023 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 91 Points
Last bottle, still charming taut and energetic. After drinking a lot of Chablis lately I was really surprised at the richness of this wine. Pretty tasty.
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6/17/2023 - GrapeScott wrote: 92 Points
From 500mL bottle. Leaking likely due to faulty cork. Despite the loose cork and previous seepage, the color was a medium shade of yellow, appropriate for its age, with no signs of premature oxidation on the nose or palate. Flinty nose with quince and pear notes. Burgundian in style, dry almost austere finish, clean and subdued oak regimen, laser-like focus. Shows notes of seashell, lemon, ginger and apple skin on the palate. To my taste, among the best in CA chard.
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4/21/2023 - xwine wrote:
Cork was loose and the screw simply pushed the cork into the bottle. Somewhat advanced (no surprise), some lemon notes. Good structure, but hard to really evaluate under the circumstances.
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4/17/2023 - jlm wrote:
Best cork I've had on a 2013 Rhys Chardonnay; this did not have signs that it had soaked through to the top. And the wine itself showed as well as it always has. Deep, full aromas with citrus oil, nut, and cream. The palate is full and rich, with oily viscosity and zingy acidic snap. The long finish is focused on the center palate and has waves of flavor in retroolefaction. Really nice, and as compelling a bottle of Alpine Chardonnay as I've had from any vintage. My last one, but I wish I had more. I have not had any bottles that seemed to be prematurely advanced.
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1/25/2023 - iDrum4Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep yellow hue that exudes tart green apple and dried apricot flavors. Crisp and chalky notes on a lingering finish.
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12/25/2022 - mclanew Likes this wine: 95 Points
Popped and poured. Remarkably youthful, fresh. Cool nose of white flowers, lime and a little marine comes through. The wine is tightly coiled, energetic, showing little oak and decent length. Chablis like in style. May get even better in time.
After three days in the fridge this is still is pretty good shape.
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10/16/2022 - James Kim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted and took 1h for the wine to start opening up. From memory of wine 2h after decanting. Aromas of just ripe apples, unripe pears, nice green herbs, minerals, and oak spice. Palate is similar to aromas with a nice mineral streak and some vanilla toward the back end. Medium-full vody w nice acids to balance the fruit. The oak is definitely there and hasn't completely integrated in. Reminescent of a 1er cru Meursault in terms of richness and body. I think with time, the wine will integrate even further. Despite this, there is a lot to enjoy to now. Open next bottle in 3-5 yrs.
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9/30/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 96 Points
Gorgeous nose with green apple, lemon, white pepper, toast, minerals, and butter notes. It’s rich, yet well balanced. On the palate, there’s lovely acidity along with notes of lemon zest, lime, chalk, apple, and a slightly bitter note. Long finish. This is drinking like a Grand Cru Burgundy, impeccably balanced with the oak well integrated, plenty of acidity, fruit, and power. Wow!
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9/4/2022 - mzimberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gorgeous pale golden. Fancy vanilla aromas. Smells like springtime with tiny wildflowers and a small bit of lemon. Fresh baked brioche palate with incredible density but still so delicate. Super long finish
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4/3/2022 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I pulled this one out early because the cork seemed distended. The cork was wet but the wine is fine -- slightly spritzy at first, lean and acidic, but with great intensity, structure and complexity. There is a slight chalkiness, and to the extent that it is fruity, the fruits are green apples and pears. But mostly, there is a savory minerality, mouth-watering, with a nutty aftertaste. This is like a high-quality Chablis. It is delicious now, but it still has a long way to go.
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3/7/2022 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
While putting bottles into the new cellar after moving, I saw this was leaking and decided to open one to check on it. Drinking well, but saw here that this is obviously a prevalent issue with this bottling.
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2/28/2022 - grafstrb wrote:
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 to 3 hours --
NOSE: bright; light to medium-light oak; expressive.
BODY: leaker, with a slightly pushed cork (this has been stored perfectly since I took receipt of it directly from winery upon release); medium yellow color --- does not appear advanced; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: apple-pear combo, but clearly Chard. (i.e.: not going to mistake it for a Chenin); 13.5% alc. is well-hidden; moderately dense, but fruit certainly seems ripe; some smoky mineral; acidity seems to be medium+; a bit loose; not as good as the bottle from Nov. '20, but still quite nice. Drinking well now.
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1/22/2022 - JPH104 Likes this wine:
Drinking really well. No bottle/cork issues.
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12/28/2021 - jlm wrote:
The cork on this bottle did not seem as problematic as other 2013s. Soaked halfway up, bit the seal was tight still. No evidence of leakage. And the bottle showed very similar to my note from 18 months ago, principally in that it took the wine a good two hours to open up and become more interesting. The material seems very good here, and were it not for the cork concerns I would say this needs time.
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12/25/2021 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Served with broiled lobster tails at Christmas dinner. The pairing was spot on...
Nose is showing lots of lemon-vanilla oak notes that seem well integrated. Very full and oily nose.
Palate is full, very rich with an oily sensation on the tongue that is quite nice. The flavors are lemon oil, with a touch of vanilla. Very well integrated oak and the wine is at its peak for my palate.
The pairing with dinner was outstanding and worth a perfect score as a whole.
Would buy again.
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12/12/2021 - fisk15 wrote: 92 Points
A surprising 92 as there were visible signs of leakage and the foil was ballooned outwards. Cork was in moderate condition but really soft. The wine was tasty, and had not turned the corner towards the toastier versions of Rhys that I've had lately. I pulled my 2 remaining bottles of this (that also showed signs of seepage) from storage so and hopefully will enjoy them over the holidays.
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9/26/2021 - djlevin Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is the highest rating I have given a white wine. The wine is dinking so well right now. The first bottle in 2017 showed so much promise and I feel like that promise has been realized. I am not sure I will ever drink a young Rhys chardonnay again. I hope all their vintages age like this! The nose is full of rich candied lemon and pineapple aromas. The palate is of candied lemon rind, pineapple and papaya leading to a lemon mousse finish that is very fruity. This a wonderful expression of New World Chardonnay that takes on just enough Old World character to make it fit in both categories. The acidity is still very high, so would be perfect for parings with seafood, or dishes with white sauces, but to pick-up the nuances, drink this wine on its own and find a new flavor with every sip. The mouth-feel is fully developed. The viscosity is like melted butter (where did that come from?), developing since the first bottle in 2017. This may mature well in the next couple years, but drinking now will not disappoint.
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9/12/2021 - snsharma Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gharter’s tasting note below is a perfect description
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8/11/2021 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 94 Points
I like this a lot. Burgundy vibes, really nice ripe tropical fruits, round with nice acidity. Too bad more California whites don’t taste like this! Very nice.
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8/8/2021 - gharter Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last bottle and the best yet. Unlike most California Chardonnays, these need time to come together. Pnp. Very aromatic with citrus, tropical fruits, lemon, pineapple, and a hint of minerality. Loaded with citrus flavors with lemon, pineapple, mineral, tropical fruits. Slight oak noted. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish. Really good now, but would not worry about holding at least another 5+ years.
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7/10/2021 - Wine Gombie wrote: flawed
Big Bummer!! Cork is protruding out of bottle with wine stains around the cork. Sad.... really, really sad. :(
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6/25/2021 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another leaky cork, but this chard continues to drink beautifully! Fragrant nose and lively palate with citrus, mineral, and vanilla notes with refreshing acidity on the long finish.
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5/3/2021 - talbot61 Likes this wine:
Too young: Aromatically muted, high acidity (not immediately apparent, but having a cumulative impact). Very dry, with a smell of baked pears, and restrained mineral flavors. There is a lot here, but it is not yet fully revealed. More soft fruitiness on the second day, though still restrained.
Counterintuitively, I would suggest that this bottle is slightly more advanced than the 2012 Horseshoe Chardonnay, and slightly less advanced than the 2014 Alpine Chardonnay.
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4/6/2021 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
It just keeps getting better.
Starts with citrus, tropical fruits, lemon, pineapple, a hint of mineral on the nose. Lots of flavor with lemon, pineapple, mineral, tropical fruits. Slight oak noted. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish
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3/9/2021 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, lemon, pineapple, a hint of mineral. Minimal oak on the nose. The flavors mirror the nose with lemon, pineapple, mineral, tropical fruits. LIght on the oak. The Citrus dominate, starting to show more complexity. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish
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2/12/2021 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Leaky cork, but this chard is drinking beautifully! Fragrant nose and lively palate with citrus, mineral, and vanilla notes with vibrant acidity on the moderate long finish.
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1/16/2021 - Nanda wrote:
A terrific bottle (and I’ve had some variation) with full, intense aromas of ripe orchard fruit, florals and mineral. Palate has bright, taut crunchy acidity and balancing plush fruit. Long, mineral and light honey finish. At peak.
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1/16/2021 - rhit wrote:
Perhaps a little less energy and extract than past Rhys chardonnays, but still bonkers good with truffles and pasta.
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12/27/2020 - wineguy1968 wrote:
Quality wine. Crisp lemon and other citrus notes. Slightly nutty finish. Very clean and energetic, not heavy or flabby like many ca chard’s. Served a bit colder than id typically serve...around 45f
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12/25/2020 - silton Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pulled w/o consulting CT and my previous note which said to hold 4-9 years 2 years ago, based on phenolic substance and fresh acids. If anything, the limestone/shale minerality was more pronounced this time, esp. on the nose, with lemony citrus and a bit of butterscotch/spice, hazelnut, and subtle stone fruit. The palate is showing less fruit character on the back end, and less edge/definition such that the finish feels shorter, but there's a mineral echo that lasts forever. Overall, I agree that this has lost some energy in the past couple of years, but it is not really a lesser wine so much as an older one. It performed well at the table with chestnut soup, and with a rich crab risotto with truffle and lemon, served @~cellar temp, and I think a younger or too cold Chardonnay from anywhere would have competed more than complemented.This Alpine might be better still in a couple more years hoping for similar mineral effusiveness and a touch less oak. It's maturing a bit faster than I thought but that's what it's doing.
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12/23/2020 - Nanda wrote: 89 Points
Honeyed orchard fruit with some mineral notes that add complexity. Palate has solid balance of fruit and acidity, though the fruit is showing tired with less brightness and more honeying than prior bottles. i think this is fading.
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12/23/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote: 87 Points
Festivus: Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength (Chicagoland IL): Seemed so much older with butterscotch and honeyed character, seeming to be getting tired. Then less interesting when revisited an hour+ later.
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12/18/2020 - gzim Likes this wine: 90 Points
nice subdued nose of some white flower and white berries, a bit rounder than expected, predominant oak (maybe needs more time?)
Not as good as expected.
Night 2 - Wow, it didnt expect this much improvement! as last night was a Lack Luster performance, there was still over half hte bottle left. Bang! tonight much leaner ( all flabbiness gone), much more zip with a beautiful clean long finish, some sour-ish lemon... much improved!
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11/19/2020 - grafstrb wrote: 95 Points
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 3 hours --
NOSE: youthful, high-toned aromatics; mineral/lemon/oak mixture; medium+ richness; a touch "green"; quite expressive and pleasant.
BODY: signs of pushed cork; foil removal confirms prior leakage; this wine has been stored perfectly since I received it from the winery, so I assume this is how it arrived to me and I simply didn't notice at the time; the only reason I pulled this wine for drinking now was the pushed cork that I noticed when rummaging around at offsite; youthful color; medium bodied.
TASTE: well, this most certainly is *not* pre-moxed or heat damaged; lots of mineral; medium richness; high acidity is a bit screechy; excellent; mineral-dominant with a good amount of fruit; salinic; alc. not noticeable; I would probably have a very hard time not calling Burg. if this was presented to me blind (Puligny). Excellent wine that has room for further improvement, but I have zero regrets about having opened this now.
50, 5, 13, 18, 9 = 95
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11/8/2020 - lockestep Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decent enough Cali-styled Chard, not too big on the oak, but fruit centric. In balance, medium bodied and not overly rich.
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10/24/2020 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 89 Points
Served with chicken scaloppini, broccoli, roast potatoes.
Cork was wet all the way through.
Good looking yellow/gold, enticing to the eye.
Lemon, peach, pear, nice nose. Acid present but not dominating. Very smooth, almost (but not quite) buttery.
Very good, but expectations were high, and not quite reached.
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10/5/2020 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
Some Italian Wines (Plus Ringers) to Welcome a New Restaurant to Town (Nella Kitchen & Bar, Los Olivos, CA): Another splendid showing with excellent balance, featuring leesy lemon oil and cut flowers, but the energy I have noted in earlier encounters is diminishing, and I would not hold these much longer.
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9/27/2020 - coremill wrote: 89 Points
Combines a restrained, honeydew/apple profile with a lot of oak-derived creamy vanilla and sesame seed. There's plenty of acid and some nice mineral bite but it's a weird profile to match the restrained fruit with all the oak. I like this less than I did a few years ago, when I think the fruit had more intensity. Not sure where this going.
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9/12/2020 - Stumpy wrote:
Faulty bottle
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8/24/2020 - MindMuse Likes this wine: 95 Points
I had coravined to sample before taking as a preamble to a 2013 Cali Pinot Noir wine dinner, and decided upon a quick taste to pull the cork and double decant the wine. Although the cork may have shown some creeping moisture, it was sound, and no signs of compromise to the quality of the wine, which was outstanding. The nose is largely citrus/minerals, with Meyer lemon, tart pear, jonquil or other yellow and white floral aromatics, slate, and brine. Much less oak on the nose than a companion 2013 Horseshoe Vyd that a friend was bringing. The palate fleshed out after decanting, and was fresh, racy lemon curd and crisp apple, with coastal mineral substrate. Delicious and delightful, really more rewarding than pretty much all the dozen Pinots. 94-95 As good or better second night.
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8/3/2020 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted blind. Really interesting nose of apples, peach, and meyer lemon. Great acidity with lemon, tart fruit, and quite creamy texture. Long finish. Very good wine, probably drinking close to peak. I actually called Rhys Chardonnay on this :)
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7/27/2020 - jjct Likes this wine:
Wine had seeped most of the way up the cork, but the seal was still intact. The wine was uncompromised, fresh and delicious.
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7/8/2020 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
Time has been good to this wine. Really starting to show really well. Citrus and tropical fruits, lemon, banana, pineapple, a hint of mineral. Minimal oak on the nose. The flavors mirror the nose with layers of flavor. The Citrus dominate, starting to show more complexity. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish.
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7/8/2020 - fisk15 wrote: 90 Points
Cork was soaked to nearly the top, but wine seemed unaffected. Very rich, with more toasty oak than I would have thought. Good, don’t know where this one is headed.
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6/27/2020 - jlm wrote:
Cork soaked to the top, some signs of slight leakage. Medium lemon color. When first poured, this was expressive but not particularly interesting. Aromas of lemon curd, but not much more. The palate was medium full with good concentration and nice zingy freshness. It was nice but not complex at all. After an hour or two open, however, some more complexity emerged, including some herbal notes and a pungent minerality on the nose. The palate began to have more delineation, and the finish also proved long, unfolding the herbal and mineral notes from the nose. I preferred a recent '13 Horseshoe Chard for its cooler, lighter profile and for its abundant non-fruit notes. The Alpine shows a little young to my taste, and I feel it has aging potential, but the status of the '13 corks concerns me. I'll be opening my other bottles sooner rather than later, but I would recommend a decant.
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5/12/2020 - locovino wrote: 91 Points
This bottle maybe a tad better than the one I had a few years ago. Still holding up very well and showing little to no age. Bright acidity with lemon and slight piney notes.
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5/8/2020 - Jbird73 wrote: 92 Points
Foil was poking up so got nervous. Removed foil and cork was flush. Pulled cork and some seepage up the cork. Nervous
After 30 minutes it opened up and was really nice. This is ready now. No waiting. Acid has receded but still a pretty nose and nice stone fruit.
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5/7/2020 - cartime Likes this wine:
This bottle was still drinking very young, with a reductive quality.
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4/16/2020 - llink wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Rocking good nose spicy citrus and Meyer lemon. Well balanced palate, good weight and acidity leads to a lovely drink that was consumed rapidly.
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3/27/2020 - mreinhard74@gmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Honeysuckle and white flowers. Full round California chard but a great acid grip without any buttery/malolactic overtones. Wonderful wine.
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3/13/2020 - citizen1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Warning! My cork was wet through and compromised. The wine itself was intact but no way it would have made it another couple of years. This is the 2nd Rhys I have had where the cork failed.
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12/15/2019 - Acohen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lemon curd, pear and crisp apple with nice balance
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11/29/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Friendsgiving Dinner (Riverwoods, IL): From magnum. Floral start with lemon peel, lemon curd and apple aromas and flavors. New World richness to start, Older World minerally textures middle through long finish. Stayed just as engaging when re-visited 2+ hours later.
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11/23/2019 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lots of pear, apple, lemon, hint of honey on the nose. Medium weight palate with good intensity, lovely balance, and more tart lemon and apple. Long tart finish. Appealing Cal chard that speaks to place, sunshine and varietal. Very good. Edged slightly by the 14.
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11/10/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Rhys @ My Place--Part 4 (My House): Bottle was opened yesterday for our Rhys event. Retasting 24 hrs later, and also alongside the 2013 Horseshoe Chard from yesterday, I do prefer the Alpine. The balance on the Alpine is better, the intensity of the fruit is not competing with the oak. Instead, the bright green apple is joined by flint, some fennel and the acidity of lemon, with a long finish. Intensity, structure, medium weight--it's all nicely built here. I do think there is aging potential here but I also like the way the wine is showing now.
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8/24/2019 - BHull Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful Chardonnay!
Full of minerality.
Bright/nicely acidic.
Lemon and flowers on the nose.
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7/20/2019 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright and energetic, with notes of leesy lemon oil and cut flowers. Great tension. Held up next to some pretty fine Meursault. I don't see this making to the 2026 CT outside drinking window but maybe others with more experience can comment.
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7/11/2019 - BarrelFermented wrote: 92 Points
Pure and focused with really nice texture. Bright and zesty lemon, honeydew, white stone fruits. Acid is pretty high but marries well into the wine. Some subtle oak adds complexity. Only concern is that its little choppy on the finish, high so2 potentially??
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6/28/2019 - DrWal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really enjoyed the coating mouth feel without being heavy and the bees wax notes on the nose and palate.
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6/22/2019 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 92 Points
No formal notes so from memory of dinner last night.
Nose has something secondary but I can't quite place it. Notes of tropical fruit, lemon and honey abound on the palate. Well-balanced and an impressively long finish that goes on and on.
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6/15/2019 - jjct Likes this wine:
Very expressive. Rich and creamy, powerful finish. Great acidity. Excellent.
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6/11/2019 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 95 Points
A wonderful chard that is so good now why wait any longer. So happy i have a couple of bottles of this wine in my cellar.
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5/13/2019 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Had a bottle a few months ago, and it was so good that I had to open my last one. It is really quite stunning, with pinpoint balance or fruit, oak and acid. I could probably drink an entire magnum by myself if I had enough seafood to get the job done.
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5/5/2019 - jbposell wrote: flawed
Lots of leakage, just this bottle, not others from the same shipment
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4/26/2019 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
13.5% alcohol. It might be an arguable point if Rhys makes the best Chardonnay in California, but the winery certainly is a contender. This is still youthful, with a medium yellow color but a lovely bouquet of green apple, a touch of citrus, lemon, and well-managed oak. In the mouth, incredibly vibrant and delicious, packed with concentrated fruit but not heavy in the least. Plenty of acidity and a long, slightly tart finish keep everything focused. Superb. A
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4/13/2019 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still pretty primary, in fact, to me came off as a bit simple. Muted lemon and mineral notes veering towards saline. A touch of mint. Precise lines, but never came together for me, am hopeful that further patience will be rewarded.
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3/31/2019 - tak4 Likes this wine:
At restaurant in Atlanta. Mineral and grapefruit on the nose. Beautiful full texture. Really nice.
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2/19/2019 - drrobvino wrote: 95 Points
1st of 2 bottles. This is insane juice.
Aromas of lemon and lime, green apple, inflections of salinity, on top of slate.
The palate is enveloping, with flavors of tart green apple and lemon curd, some brine notes, drizzled with rich honey over slate rocks and a hint of vanilla.
This is a complex and delicious wine that displays a Meursault-like richness and flavor profile. There is a long and saline/slate finish, with nervy acidity that puckers the jaws and begs for the next sip. One of the best domestic Chards I have had the pleasure of drinking. Delicious.
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2/17/2019 - Diane (LI) wrote:
If the label didn't say Santa Cruz Mountains, you would swear it came from Burgundy. Simply delicious.
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1/19/2019 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light gold color. Enticing aromatics covering the spectrum of pithy citrus fruit, crushed sandstone, acacia flower, old cedar, hazelnut, gingerbread and savory spices. Rich texture on the palate unwrapping layers of luscious citrus fruit along a melange of secondary notes consistent with the aromatics. Very nice density and weight. Give it a little air and the acid integrates beautifully. Finishes with fine structure and excellent length. Very early secondary stage, still very youthful, showing beautifully.
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1/16/2019 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Spicy, packed with citrus, then transitioning to a more tropical fruit expression in the mid-palate, this is drinking very well right now. I had the bottle of the course of two nights, and it held steady, so no rush if you can't get to it, but if you can, do. It's delicious. now.
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1/4/2019 - rcg62 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Honeyed and buttery nose, but tight and Burgundian and delicious. This has filled out and become better with age. I’ve been drinking this too young! Drink or hold.
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12/27/2018 - nywine68 wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous fresh acidity. Juicy lemons with great depth of flavors. Very nice length. Delicious.
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12/14/2018 - Tree512 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lively and tasty. Good acid and ripe white fruits with a bit of tropical in there as well. Will keep aging but no need to hold back.
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9/15/2018 - sdr Likes this wine:
Tasted hurriedly. It has filled out nicely. Clearly California but it’s nicely restrained and fully mature.
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9/4/2018 - blaine wrote: 91 Points
Very solid, just veering a bit too much into tropical fruit...pineapple...than I prefer in this category of high-end chard.
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8/29/2018 - DickMull Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened on a Wednesday night to accompany some Rosemary Grilled Chicken. Upon opening, it had a fairly fierce grapefruit nose, reminiscent of a New Zealand SB, with a crisp wet stone/minerality on the palate. After an hour, it had settled down quite a bit, displaying bread, lanolin, vanilla, and slightly nutty notes on the nose, with much more moderate citrus and oily nut flavors. The following day, the fruit was more tropical (papaya?) and the texture more rounded. The finish lasted almost a full minute. All in all, I really liked it, although ar first it was almost a bit too Chablis-like for me. I have another bottle, and will wait a few more years to see if the crisp acidity tones down a bit.
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8/25/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
We opened this, our last, a bit earlier than we would have, because like the Horseshoe 2013, the capsule was noticeably bulging. On removal of the capsule, we saw that the cork was only slightly protruding — albeit quite wet. And it was a real squeaker as the screw went down. The removed cork was softer than normal. Yet like the 2013 Horseshoe, the wine seemed just fine over the course of three days, and not substantially different from our note in February 2016. Dramatic, brilliant, and again with fantastic acidity. Still, after two in a row now — from different bottlings — I’d be concerned about cork issues with these white 2013s .... (And it makes me think about checking the red 2013s, which we’ve left sleeping ....)
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8/21/2018 - dougie Likes this wine: 93 Points
Became fuller over 3 hours. Classy and no flaws.
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8/18/2018 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 93 Points
It really takes off after being opened for an hour or two, great complexity and richness well supported by acidity.
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7/22/2018 - B Paul wrote:
Followed over two nights. Seems to be a strong vintage for this wine. Drinking well now.
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7/10/2018 - Tetherton wrote: 93 Points
The other tasting notes have captured this wine. Simply put, it is the nectar of the Gods!! And, I just discovered there are no more 2013 Rhys chardonnays in the cellar. Don't know how this happened....
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6/23/2018 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
This bottle came across as a bit too fat and creamy for my tastes. Good, but a bit heavy.
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6/13/2018 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. Obviously high-class. I love how this wine has such focused lemon and minerals, without veering too much into tropical fruits, while at the same time having serious depth and richness. This seems like it could only improve with age.
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5/17/2018 - wineaux2 wrote:
This was a pretty good chard. Banana and tropicals on the nose took a backseat to lemon and citrus notes on the palate. A bit of sweet spice rounded out the finish. Good acidity too. Glad Rhys has dialed back the oak on this wine.
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4/27/2018 - Tom Warden Likes this wine: 94 Points
American White Burgundy!
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4/11/2018 - ruffsurf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pure vanilla bean and a measured amount of fruit that is seamlessly integrated with just the right amount of lemony brightness --all it resulting in a refreshing and lightly structured body. Nice to see a winemaker produce a chardonnay that tastes like one without piling on the wood and sappy fruit.
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3/25/2018 - silton Likes this wine: 94 Points
No formal notes. Classic Alpine shale, barely ripe nectarine, meyer lemon, a touch of mango and brown spice, super expressive and long. Outstanding now, but aim to spread out the remaining bottles over 4-9 years. Opened and tasted 1.5 hours before decanting for 30 minutes before service.
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3/16/2018 - TomTom Likes this wine:
A really nice Rhys Chardonnay. The second glass was better than the first as I think it needed a bit of air in its youth. Lemon and some tropical fruits are the primary flavor profile along with a good bit of acid, which I liked. The nose is very expressive and maybe the wine's best feature. A few more years to round it out a bit is the plan for the rest of them in my cellar.
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12/23/2017 - sdr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent California Chardonnay, the ‘13 Rhys Alpine is bracingly crisp and citric, like a fine Chablis. Minimal oak influence. Very young of course, but if it develops more texture and complexity it could even become superb. Impressive.
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11/24/2017 - locovino wrote: 90 Points
Very nice bottle of SC Mts. Chardonnay but not at the level of other vintages. Lovely nose of bright lemon curd and slight piney overtones. Crisp acidity in the mouth with a follow-up of the citrus fruit and some oak. Still young. Not as mineral driven as other vintages.
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10/31/2017 - gharter Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Very aromatic from the start. Very complex nose with citrus and tropical fruits, lemon, banana, pineapple, a hint of mineral. Minimal oak on the nose. The flavors mirror the nose with layers of flavor. Still a little simple on the palate for now. Nice mouthfeel with great acid balance. Long smooth finish. Didn't have with food, but would pair well with a lighter seafood. I think the wine would get lost with a heavy dish. Good now, but the best is still a few years away.
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9/27/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
California Chardonnay (Trent's): I brought this as I love Rhys Chards. Good to try this blind though. Light gold in color. This is very tight. It took a while to coax much off the nose. Some lemon cream. A couple people mentioned gun flint, but I just had a hard time getting much off of it. On the palate this is tart in a good way. Lemon candy. Turns to green apple. As it warms almost a sweet spice on the finish. This kept improving all night long, but this bottle needs time or air at this point. While it showed very well, I had hoped for better. $75
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8/13/2017 - djlevin Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose is complex with citrus and tropical fruits... candied lemon, bright fresh lemon, banana and pineapple. There is a tinge of alcohol and a kiss of minerality too. The palate is more straight-forward. Fresh lemon, bitter lemon rind leading to a lemon curd finish that has a touch of sweetness. The main impression here is of an understated wine, the nuances of which will not be experienced with food. I think the mouth-feel is still developing, so with very high acidity, I would let this rest a few more years to achieve the best tasting experience. This drinks very well now as a quality Cali Chard, but if you are willing to wait, I think this will mature to add another point or two to the rating.
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6/18/2017 - jfpwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very Chablis-like. Pale lemon. Very mineral nose, with wet stone and chalk. Yellow Apple, lemon and a little white peach that betrays its CA roots. Mineral palate,medium+ finish.
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5/25/2017 - B Paul wrote: 91 Points
Followed over 3 hrs. This is bigger than I'm used to from Rhys, though it's tasty and drinking well now. I don't think this is a wine for long-term aging.
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5/3/2017 - msuwine wrote: 89 Points
A sharp Chablis-style CA Chardonnay that offers more acidity than charm. I am huge fan of Rhys's Pinots, but this is my second Rhys Chardonnay that was just too tart and angular to be enjoyable, at least for me. Light yellow in color, light in body, nose of lemon and salt water. Tastes of green apple, lemon peel, orange rind, grapefruit, and steel, with a piercingly acidic and dry finish. 13.5% alcohol. I know one man's tartness is another man's purity, and I wanted to like this - I just didn't. It's well made and has plenty of life ahead of it, so hopefully my other bottle will be better in another year or two.
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4/30/2017 - peternelson wrote: 94 Points
Stunning, orchard fruit, boatload of minerals, chalky, a little masonry, reduction, with a kiss of well-integrated oak. Silky, restrained but intense at the same time, long long finish. With Sockeye wild salmon.
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1/1/2017 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Complex nose of lemon oil, lemongrass, white pepper, mint, and roasted cinnamon. I like the lemon on the palate and the way all the aromas continue to assert themselves. Pretty great.
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11/10/2016 - TC16 wrote: 94 Points
Beautifully made. Slate, warm lemon, lemon curd, a little warming vanilla in the end. A touch of oak rounds it out nicely. Great mouthfeel and long finish. It has the finesse reminiscent of a good white burgundy in a warmer year, but it is still clearly from California. I understand the Chablis comparison, but it is a bit bigger than a typical Chablis - and this isn't to say this is a bad thing, but I see this wine being a fuller version of a premier/grand cru. Plus, you avoid all those nasty premox issues.
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9/27/2016 - llink wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful nose, very complex with white pepper, citrus, spice and a limestone chalky element. Well structured, with restrained acid, deep and lively palate with a little spice on the back end. Really clean with deep flavors but nice lift. Juicy finish, great balance. I need more of this.
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9/17/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 97 Points
Hillside, Pride, Myriad, Montelena, Rhys, Peter Michael, Yquem (Cleveland Heights): Best showing yet for this Chard. It was great drinking this next to the PM for a contrast in styles. It is still so young and in need of time to open. I would recommend a three hour decant if drinking now. Gold green in color. The nose is gorgeous with steely minerals, slight gun powder, lots of green apples, some lemon curd and vanilla. On the palate, this has pin point acidity. Razor shop. In a sense like a great Chablis but then the fruit has a ripeness to it that doesn't over power the wine but says its from California. Deep and layered. Red apples, some lemon and vanilla and lots of minerals on the palate. Long finish. Brilliant wine, but I need to hold these a bit longer (although its my wifes favorite white).
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9/9/2016 - The Count of Notre Dame Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the finest Chablis style wines I've ever had from California.
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9/9/2016 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Both mineral-driven and rich. Like a cross between Chablis and Montrachet? Lacks the pure, pronounced lemon mesas of the Rhys chardonnays I've tasted from Horseshoe Vineyard (2009, 2010, 2012). More minerality instead. Much less oak. The Horseshoe Vineyard wines were more impressive to me, though this wine is good too.
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7/18/2016 - rralls wrote: 92 Points
Needs more time but still delicious.
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7/18/2016 - Acohen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Crisp with green apple, pear, minerality and purity of fruit
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6/9/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
Cavs-GSW Pregame (Paul B. comes to CLE) (Somewhere on E. 4th street): This bottle was opened at 1:00 and allowed to breathe for 3 hours. Then put in the fridge, still open, for another hour, before being recorked and taken to the restaurant. Great showing and needs every bit of that air and more (or better yet, cellaring). Green-gold in color. The nose is great with grapefruit, vanilla and lemon curd. On the palate, real depth here but so precise. Some vanilla/spice showing but not obtrusive and the fruit is certainly dominant. Great balance. Wonderful, slightly oily texture. Long finish. Great showing, but I need to save other bottles for a few years at least.
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5/19/2016 - rc@ughey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hyper-delicious and a dead ringer for a ripe, well-balanced White Burg 1er from a top producer. This has beautiful, dense fruit, and serious dry extract and minerality. Superbly balanced with just a touch of oak. A real winner from Rhys.
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5/17/2016 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Either my fragile palate is changing more or Rhys has dialed back the new oak, or both. Probably doesn't matter, as when this is drank at the temp I like for chard (chilled but not cold), this is terrific. Slate, tons of lemon, shades of apple and some vanilla that comes through as it warms. Even some saline in the finish too when that temp is just right. Paired this with a sea bass ceviche, that was dressed in lime, light cilantro, a touch of soy and it just made for a smashing match. A day later, sitting here on a warm afternoon enjoying the rest of this, paired with just a handful of lightly salted almonds. This is pretty delicious, shaped by some new oak that I didn't taste like I do today. Together, they create a lemon tart kind of experience. But, what puts that quality in check is the lemon peel acidity, which is still taut and lively. Where this wine will shine is with a broad diversity of palates--the savory saline and lemon, yet the moderate sexy tones of the oak and fruit doing their thing. One of these days, I'd like to see the Rhys team do something with old oak and see what we get, as I for one would line up to try that and see what they crafted. In the end, this is terrific Alpine for a wide array of tastes.
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2/26/2016 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Courtesy of tlv, this was gorgeous. Aromas of lemon, toast, vanilla fluff and orchard fruit with a flinty/smoky background note. Full-bodied and layered. Citrus, apple and marshmallow flavors wash over the palate. Balanced. Long finish.
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2/18/2016 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Medium golden. A significant hit of savory oak was a bit disconcerting at first; then we just accepted it. Bright, balanced, with almost bracing acidity. Minerals and earth. This was dramatic from the start, and only gained over four nights. Wow.
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2/14/2016 - skifree wrote: 91 Points
So this is what all the fuss is about! Reminded me of a solid white burg or high end Chablis, with intense citrus and mineral dominating. Very high-toned and complete. Glad I have one more to drink.
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2/11/2016 - EMark Likes this wine:
Very big oaky nose of vanilla. Yes, on the tongue I get the vanilla, and, maybe caramel. Citrus fruit flavors come with concomitant hit of refreshing acid. Quite spritely on the back of the palate—my guess is that is coming from the acid. Winner, winner.
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2/9/2016 - coremill wrote: 91 Points
This is really good, a ringer for a top-class White Burgundy. Lots of ripe honeydew and green apple fruit, a good dollop of fancy oak, good density, lots of acid, lots of mineral bite, really good length. Excellent.
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2/7/2016 - PBR Likes this wine: 94 Points
Loved it....great mellow butterscotch flavor with light lemon zest....hint of polished river rock for some undertones of minerality...
Very smooth, long finish......
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12/31/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at the nieghbors (The M's): Very tight and needs time. As it unwinds in the glass, it is a beautiful wine. Light golden in color. The nose has lemon and slight floral notes. With air, the lemon broadens and some vanilla emerges. Great texture. This is tightly packed. Very intense. Lemon and vanilla on the palate with great acidity. Long finish. Worked great with food, but I would decant or better yet, wait. Room for improvement for sure.
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12/19/2015 - Fabrini Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just about perfect.
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12/18/2015 - odds Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank along side the horseshoe. Natural successor of the '12 alpine and very consistent taste. Good both now and great growth potential. Color with bright gold/dust (not bright as the horseshoe). Very floral nose from pnp. For those who like their chard very 'fresh' (aka young), it is a natural winner. For those who prefer to age their chard, this one has the potential for wonderful aging. Medium plus finish (longer than the horseshoe). Great with all dishes in the meal. Vote of the bottle- first one to be emptied.
93+. Next time, I'd give it more decanting and not have at PnP (though consumed over two hours)
(Edited two days later-- might have been fair to say 94 but I will uphold the initial this time)
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11/2/2015 - Col.Harding wrote: 93 Points
so good the problem is waiting until it is really ready to drink.
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8/25/2015 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 94 Points
It starts out modestly, but the complexity and persistence is amazing, with pure lemon and minerals and razor sharp acidity, it is very nice now but really needs more time.
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8/17/2015 - jrkennedy37 wrote:
Drank alongside all other '13 Rhys in 375ml. For chardonnay, there was no clear "winner" between horseshoe and alpine. Alpine was more precise, expressed more minerality and possessed more of a saline element, all without any noticeable oak - in fact, one person in the group asked if rhys oaked this chardonnay at all. Will need quite a bit of time for the complexities to unravel, though this is incredible right now and will need to be literally locked up to avoid drinking too soon.
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7/30/2015 - Col.Harding wrote: 92 Points
just terrific
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4/21/2015 - B Paul wrote:
Didn't get much air as the half bottle disappeared pretty quickly. Perhaps a bit more tropical than prior Alpine Chardonnays, but great.
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