Quite interesting on the nose with lemon and apple flavors, minerals, a hint of oak, and a bit of peach skin. Good acidity with more lemon notes, citrus peel, flint and smoke on the palate. Long finish. This is really good, probably still on the upswing.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Blind Worldwide Chardonnay (COV, Edina, MN): Light medium gold color. Drank a glass single blind over an hour plus. This was very good; nice spiciness, plenty of Meyer lemon and lemon, some florals, limestone, zippy but there's some richness too, long and vibrant. Missed this one.
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PnP, last bottle. Starts with aromas of pineapple, tart green apple, lemon, citrus , and nutmeg, Medium to full bodied. Lots of flavors with pineapple, green apple, citrus, floral, minerals, spice, a touch of oak. Long smooth finish. In a really good place now, but no hurry to open.
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PNP. Magnum. Beautiful nose, lemon, spice, subtle gun flint and stone fruit. Medium weight palate, good combination of silky texture and luscious lemon, citrus fruit and balanced by a lively acidic bite. Excellent.
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Last bottle and may be the best. In its drinking window. PnP. Beautiful aromas of pineapple, floral, apple, pear, lime , citrus, with subtle oak. Loaded with flavor showing pineapple, apple, pear, lime, citrus, light oak and floral. Medium body with good acidity and a medium finish. Clearly a wine to not have opened early as it needed years to show its best, but it is there.
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Drinking very well. Medium+ gold color. Effusive nose, tropical. Palate rich, also tropical with some green apple...tropical not being my favorite nose or palate profile but it works here. Hint of bitterness at opening that rounded out. Solid acidic backbone, but not bracing. Long juicy finish. Probably near its peak, I'd get to this if its in your cellar. Wife thought its peak might be behind it.
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Better than the last bottle. PnP and good to go. Very aromatic with pineapple, floral, apple, pear, lime , citrus, with subtle oak. Flavors of pineapple, apple, pear, lime, citrus, light oak and floral. Medium body with good acidity with a slightly tart finish.
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Fragrant nose and lively palate with citrus, mineral, and a hint of vanilla which carries to a moderate long finish with lovely acidity. Drinking well!
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More tropical than typical of Rhys: I get a lot of tangerine and mango, with a lemon twist. Full fruit depth, rich, quite spicy; I would say "oaky" but I've been chastised on that point, so I will stick with "spicy" with a bit of sweetness. Although rich, it still has a good line of acid and considerable structure and length. Very California, but high-class California. AG's description of "flamboyant" is close to the mark. Not quite what I expect from Rhys, but a very good wine.
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Started out a little tight, but opened after about 30 minutes. Floral, apple, pear, lime , citrus, with subtle oak. Similar flavors, medium body. Good acidity with a tart finish. Much more a food wine than a sipping wine. Seems to just be entering its drinking window.
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Fantastic chard, burgundy-like nose, slight reduction, lemon tart, crisp apple, hay, clean, yellow flowers, kiss of very nice French oak; fresh, showing very little age except nice integration, excellent concentration and tangy mouthwatering finish. I thought I saw 2013 on the label though and assume I must have read it wrong b/c I don't show any '13 in my cellar. At Caldo Verde w/A
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from 375 - starting to relax a bit - hitting a nice sweet spot for me, with the fruit still reasonably fresh yet everything is open and easy (these can tend to be taut & wound right at the outset). wonderful wine... mineral-first, round fruited but two steps more graceful than "big" california chards. highly enjoyable
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Really complex and sophisticated in nature. Slightly reduced on first pouring then very rich and textured with citrus, white peach and apple notes over an underlying structured mineral skeleton. Moderate acidity, by no means flabby. Long finish, complex and layered. Really refined and elegant.
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Nice wine, mouthfeel with good concentration of fruit with citrus overtones. Bright and racy wine. I would have scored this a tad higher but the finish was almost too tart. The wine was drunk at a BYOB so no decant and it came up to temperature over time. I think the finish improved by end of dinner. Not that buttery or creamy which I do prefer in my chardonnays. Well balanced, oak was not pronounced as I prefer it.
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Ripe, yet not overdone. Apples, peaches and a slight saline note on the finish. Balanced, with nice cleansing acidity. UPDATE: A marked improvement on day two; there is more depth and layers of flavors. A bit of tangerine and citrus pith flavors chimed in; more length and breadth.
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This was stunning and drunk the day after the 2014 Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots. This was more vibrant, although less complex. Similar and we enjoyed both.
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-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple hours --
NOSE: ripe, medium-light typical Chardonnay aromas; fennel bulb; papaya; light orange; medium to medium+ expressiveness; air exposure brings-out fruit aromas.
BODY: clear; medium-rich pale yellow color; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: Wow! This is really flippin' good! high acidity; tangy/metallic mineral; lots of mineral; tight with the fruit (some starting peeking out at the 1 hour mark); hint of oak spice (nutmeg); 13% alc. not noticeable. Another remarkable Chardonnay from Rhys! I'm starting to wonder if Chardonnay is what Rhys does best; I think we're going to need another 15 to 20 years to see how everything takes to age before we start making those calls, but it will certainly be interesting to watch these wines age to maturity. Assuming no rapid decline, as noted by others for a few other Rhys Chardonnay bottlings, this one's legit. Drink Now and over the foreseeable mid-term (if not long-term) future. I recommend a decant if drinking now.
Ashley's gut impression score: 92 My score: 50, 5, 12, 18, 9 = 94
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Realized too late we were opening the Alpine, of which we had one — rather than the intended Bearwallow, of which we have three. Tant pis! But what a lovely wine. Vibrant, energetic, and expressive from the beginning, and over the next two nights. We skipped the third night, but on the fourth it was still very lively and lovely. Darn, we would have liked to taste this again in two years!
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Needed 1.5 hours of air to open up. Notes of lime, salt, pineapple, and toasted oak. Medium-plus body, yet seemingly light as a feather. Searing acidity in outstanding balance; utterly food-versatile (and quaffable!) thus. Was still drinking wonderfully 8 hours in, though the sweet spot might have been reached around the 3rd hour. 13% ABV.
Blind Wines with Indian Food (Basanti in San Juan Capistrano, CA (South OC)): Poured blind for the table, but in disclosure this wine was from my cellar and I knew the bag #. However, I worked hard to not influence the rest of the table, and I too wanted to give the wine a fair read, as it had been a year since I last tasted one. Opened about 3 hours before we drank it, served during the meal with a chill that we allowed to warm in the glass so we could assess it across temperature. Citrus blossom aromatic, with a palate impression of bright citrus, pippin apple, slate and a sexy, creamy note. The balance and weight on this wine is dialed in perfectly, finishing with some river rock and medium structure. This is drinking spot on good and is a fine example for me of when the Rhys Chardonnay is top of the class. Excellent.
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Served blind. Clean and lean. Lemony with a bit of a grip. Nice sea shell notes. Had that tinge of age. I thought it was a Chablis. Interesting wine. This didn't have that richness I've usually come to associate with Rhys Chard. I usually roll my eyes when people compare a Cali Chard to Chablis but this one fits the mold.
An incredibly rich yet elegant wine shows aromas of peach, lemon oil, white flower, and crushed stone as a prelude to a palate of dense fruit, medium body, and racy acidity. Finishes with citrus and spice. The 2015 Alpine Vineyard is excellent and ready to enjoy today.
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Lemon peel notes, lemon curd, crystalized lemon with understated whie peach, and loads of rock, chalk, bags 'o minerals. Silky, not heavy, great balance, lift, long. What more do you want? This is great chard. At winery with Eric Prahl. I'd give it a higher rating but my scale only goes to 93
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Tasted next to the 2015 'Shoe Chard, and while I liked that wine a lot, I really dug this Alpine--my notes have a big star next to it. Pineapple, a touch creamy, light lemon curd with a great depth and intense finish. There is a sexy quality to this vintage. Excellent.
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9/21/2023 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quite interesting on the nose with lemon and apple flavors, minerals, a hint of oak, and a bit of peach skin. Good acidity with more lemon notes, citrus peel, flint and smoke on the palate. Long finish. This is really good, probably still on the upswing.
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6/15/2023 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
I meant to bring a 2009, but this was drinking well. To me, it seems American but without the modern California flare.
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6/11/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Blind Worldwide Chardonnay (COV, Edina, MN): Light medium gold color. Drank a glass single blind over an hour plus. This was very good; nice spiciness, plenty of Meyer lemon and lemon, some florals, limestone, zippy but there's some richness too, long and vibrant. Missed this one.
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6/1/2023 - gharter Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP, last bottle. Starts with aromas of pineapple, tart green apple, lemon, citrus , and nutmeg, Medium to full bodied. Lots of flavors with pineapple, green apple, citrus, floral, minerals, spice, a touch of oak. Long smooth finish. In a really good place now, but no hurry to open.
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3/24/2023 - llink wrote:
PNP. Magnum. Beautiful nose, lemon, spice, subtle gun flint and stone fruit. Medium weight palate, good combination of silky texture and luscious lemon, citrus fruit and balanced by a lively acidic bite. Excellent.
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3/20/2023 - gharter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last bottle and may be the best. In its drinking window. PnP. Beautiful aromas of pineapple, floral, apple, pear, lime , citrus, with subtle oak. Loaded with flavor showing pineapple, apple, pear, lime, citrus, light oak and floral. Medium body with good acidity and a medium finish. Clearly a wine to not have opened early as it needed years to show its best, but it is there.
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11/27/2022 - blaine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well. Medium+ gold color. Effusive nose, tropical. Palate rich, also tropical with some green apple...tropical not being my favorite nose or palate profile but it works here. Hint of bitterness at opening that rounded out. Solid acidic backbone, but not bracing. Long juicy finish. Probably near its peak, I'd get to this if its in your cellar. Wife thought its peak might be behind it.
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10/31/2022 - gharter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Better than the last bottle. PnP and good to go. Very aromatic with pineapple, floral, apple, pear, lime , citrus, with subtle oak. Flavors of pineapple, apple, pear, lime, citrus, light oak and floral. Medium body with good acidity with a slightly tart finish.
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9/26/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fragrant nose and lively palate with citrus, mineral, and a hint of vanilla which carries to a moderate long finish with lovely acidity. Drinking well!
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6/12/2022 - Thepour Likes this wine:
Very good. Some years Horsehoe is better than Alpine but seems Alpine is best in 2015
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3/7/2022 - Acohen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pear and lemon with great finish
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3/7/2022 - Acohen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bosc pear, lemon and slight tropical notes with nice long finish
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2/3/2022 - ChrisR Likes this wine:
More tropical than typical of Rhys: I get a lot of tangerine and mango, with a lemon twist. Full fruit depth, rich, quite spicy; I would say "oaky" but I've been chastised on that point, so I will stick with "spicy" with a bit of sweetness. Although rich, it still has a good line of acid and considerable structure and length. Very California, but high-class California. AG's description of "flamboyant" is close to the mark. Not quite what I expect from Rhys, but a very good wine.
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1/28/2022 - gharter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Started out a little tight, but opened after about 30 minutes. Floral, apple, pear, lime , citrus, with subtle oak. Similar flavors, medium body. Good acidity with a tart finish. Much more a food wine than a sipping wine. Seems to just be entering its drinking window.
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1/9/2022 - peternelson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic chard, burgundy-like nose, slight reduction, lemon tart, crisp apple, hay, clean, yellow flowers, kiss of very nice French oak; fresh, showing very little age except nice integration, excellent concentration and tangy mouthwatering finish. I thought I saw 2013 on the label though and assume I must have read it wrong b/c I don't show any '13 in my cellar. At Caldo Verde w/A
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12/26/2021 - Brian Love wrote: flawed
Sadly, corked… Oh well.
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6/21/2021 - mreinhard74@gmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich and Burgundian. Big floral nose white a surprising acid bite on back end. Wet stone and bitter lemon.
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3/9/2021 - Jahull03 wrote:
from 375 - starting to relax a bit - hitting a nice sweet spot for me, with the fruit still reasonably fresh yet everything is open and easy (these can tend to be taut & wound right at the outset).
wonderful wine... mineral-first, round fruited but two steps more graceful than "big" california chards. highly enjoyable
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1/17/2021 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really complex and sophisticated in nature. Slightly reduced on first pouring then very rich and textured with citrus, white peach and apple notes over an underlying structured mineral skeleton. Moderate acidity, by no means flabby. Long finish, complex and layered. Really refined and elegant.
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12/23/2020 - SCosgrove wrote: 89 Points
High acidity, tangy, not my favorite Chardonnay.
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10/6/2020 - azb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful, extrovert & lively, citrusy notes, some creme brule, rich but not cloying, needs a short decanting.
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8/16/2020 - R.H. wrote:
just ok for me. a richness that smacks early and doesn't let up. there's good acidity but it feels like it's fighting a bit with the whole package
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7/14/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nice wine, mouthfeel with good concentration of fruit with citrus overtones. Bright and racy wine. I would have scored this a tad higher but the finish was almost too tart. The wine was drunk at a BYOB so no decant and it came up to temperature over time. I think the finish improved by end of dinner. Not that buttery or creamy which I do prefer in my chardonnays. Well balanced, oak was not pronounced as I prefer it.
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2/23/2020 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich, precise, expressive, really delicious.
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9/11/2019 - fcxj wrote: 86 Points
Ripe, not very interesting.
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9/2/2019 - mdefreitas wrote: 94 Points
Ripe, yet not overdone. Apples, peaches and a slight saline note on the finish. Balanced, with nice cleansing acidity. UPDATE: A marked improvement on day two; there is more depth and layers of flavors. A bit of tangerine and citrus pith flavors chimed in; more length and breadth.
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5/11/2019 - Diane (LI) wrote:
This was stunning and drunk the day after the 2014 Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots. This was more vibrant, although less complex. Similar and we enjoyed both.
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11/17/2018 - grafstrb wrote: 94 Points
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over a couple hours --
NOSE: ripe, medium-light typical Chardonnay aromas; fennel bulb; papaya; light orange; medium to medium+ expressiveness; air exposure brings-out fruit aromas.
BODY: clear; medium-rich pale yellow color; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: Wow! This is really flippin' good! high acidity; tangy/metallic mineral; lots of mineral; tight with the fruit (some starting peeking out at the 1 hour mark); hint of oak spice (nutmeg); 13% alc. not noticeable. Another remarkable Chardonnay from Rhys! I'm starting to wonder if Chardonnay is what Rhys does best; I think we're going to need another 15 to 20 years to see how everything takes to age before we start making those calls, but it will certainly be interesting to watch these wines age to maturity. Assuming no rapid decline, as noted by others for a few other Rhys Chardonnay bottlings, this one's legit. Drink Now and over the foreseeable mid-term (if not long-term) future. I recommend a decant if drinking now.
Ashley's gut impression score: 92
My score: 50, 5, 12, 18, 9 = 94
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11/17/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Realized too late we were opening the Alpine, of which we had one — rather than the intended Bearwallow, of which we have three. Tant pis! But what a lovely wine. Vibrant, energetic, and expressive from the beginning, and over the next two nights. We skipped the third night, but on the fourth it was still very lively and lovely. Darn, we would have liked to taste this again in two years!
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8/11/2018 - joraesque wrote: 93 Points
Needed 1.5 hours of air to open up. Notes of lime, salt, pineapple, and toasted oak. Medium-plus body, yet seemingly light as a feather. Searing acidity in outstanding balance; utterly food-versatile (and quaffable!) thus. Was still drinking wonderfully 8 hours in, though the sweet spot might have been reached around the 3rd hour. 13% ABV.
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6/15/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Blind Wines with Indian Food (Basanti in San Juan Capistrano, CA (South OC)): Poured blind for the table, but in disclosure this wine was from my cellar and I knew the bag #. However, I worked hard to not influence the rest of the table, and I too wanted to give the wine a fair read, as it had been a year since I last tasted one. Opened about 3 hours before we drank it, served during the meal with a chill that we allowed to warm in the glass so we could assess it across temperature. Citrus blossom aromatic, with a palate impression of bright citrus, pippin apple, slate and a sexy, creamy note. The balance and weight on this wine is dialed in perfectly, finishing with some river rock and medium structure. This is drinking spot on good and is a fine example for me of when the Rhys Chardonnay is top of the class. Excellent.
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6/14/2018 - WetRock wrote:
Served blind. Clean and lean. Lemony with a bit of a grip. Nice sea shell notes. Had that tinge of age. I thought it was a Chablis. Interesting wine. This didn't have that richness I've usually come to associate with Rhys Chard. I usually roll my eyes when people compare a Cali Chard to Chablis but this one fits the mold.
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4/10/2018 - rlove wrote: 93 Points
An incredibly rich yet elegant wine shows aromas of peach, lemon oil, white flower, and crushed stone as a prelude to a palate of dense fruit, medium body, and racy acidity. Finishes with citrus and spice. The 2015 Alpine Vineyard is excellent and ready to enjoy today.
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12/9/2017 - cos65 Likes this wine:
From 375
Pale gold
Ripe bitter lemon and light green apple notes
Lighter, more elegant feel.
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7/25/2017 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Lemon peel notes, lemon curd, crystalized lemon with understated whie peach, and loads of rock, chalk, bags 'o minerals. Silky, not heavy, great balance, lift, long. What more do you want? This is great chard. At winery with Eric Prahl. I'd give it a higher rating but my scale only goes to 93
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7/23/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Tasted next to the 2015 'Shoe Chard, and while I liked that wine a lot, I really dug this Alpine--my notes have a big star next to it. Pineapple, a touch creamy, light lemon curd with a great depth and intense finish. There is a sexy quality to this vintage. Excellent.
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