Light yellow color. A bit of lemon cream and matchstick on this scent. Really nice balance. Light bodied, Acidity resolving. Very pretty flavor of lemon, and matchstick finishing long on flavor with a touch of skin tannin closing the finish. A ringer for premier cru white burgundy. Very enjoyable.
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PNP. Medium yellow color. The nose shows tropical fruit, honey, apple cider and spice. Borderline advanced based on the nose. The palate is deep and rich with sneaky, lemony acidity, high glycerol mouthfeel without coming across as cloying.
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Best showing of a Rhys Chard yet.... popped and poured, was very good, decanted for two hours and it was singing. Sweet fruit, lots of complexity and a clean crisp finish. Color was very amber, aging beautifully! Bravo
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Good color, quite rich, very rich, nice umami, good acidity. I think this is a great representation of the Rhys style, vintage, and evolution in the wines. More recent vintages are just a little less flamboyant, and more reserved.
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Rhys Dinner (Golden Triangle, Los Gatos): This wine was completely muted at first and showed almost nothing on the nose. After about 20 minutes in the glass, finally the nose came through with lemon, minerals, and herb flavors emerging from the glass. On the palate good acidity and flavors of meyer lemon and ripe apples. Long finish. I really liked this wine with some air...
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Golden hue, nuttiness, just barely hanging on. Probably held on to this too long for my tastes, but lovers of aged Chardonnay would probably think higher of this.
orange pushup evolving to lemon/lime ice, spring flowers, light vanilla wafer. pure lemon sorbet over slate flavors, just delicious and quaffable, with a pleasant aged faint nuttiness, racy long finish. a zippy and rich sc chard. I think the Rhys chards are my favorite out of the portfolio. nose faded over a few hours, so maybe sooner rather than later?
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The ‘06 Alpine is in a perfect place today, with a floral-dominated bouquet with notes of sweet cream, almond paste, crushed stone and peach. On the palate, I found silky textures which seemed to envelope the senses, ushering in smoky stone fruits and minerals with a refreshing bump of acidity. It finished long on palate-saturating stony minerality and hints of roasted almond. This was a real treat.
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Corey and Linda NYC lunch: what a change from initial note to the one 2 hours later. give it time to breathe. initially - lots of power. serious and well balanced... with time - much more aromatic ! Minerality and citrus becoming dominant. still showing some oak but with great elegance. def a bigger wine but quite excellent.
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This was good but not impressive on first pour. One taster thought it a bit reduced, another quite young. After about 2 hours (maybe earlier as I didn't retry before then) it really blossomed with a beautiful nose and the flavors wafting across my palate.
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very good wine, drank on Tiff's bday when the P Pernot Bienvenue Batard Montrachet '06 was pre-moxed, this was very good but rounder and richer than i prefer, nonetheless nicely made with decent acid, everyone loved it at the table
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It starts with some smoke on nose, which gives way to lemon as it airs out. A nice balance of richness and mineraility and acidity, and while the oak is noticeable, it acts as a spice that complements the savoriness without overwhelming it.
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This bottle seemed a little past its prime. There's some honeyed aromas and a rich palate weight, but there's a hint of oxidation on the finish, and a little heat from the alcohol. The wine also doesn't show much acidity. Maybe a bad bottle.
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Served blind. Tropical fruit, lemon / minerality on the nose. Mid weight, lush, with nice acidity on the finish. I thought this wine was very 'puligny-like'. I think it would fool many in a blind tasting.
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popped and poured...solid expectations for this one after a bottle of 04 knocked it out of the park. unfortunately this bottle fell flat. it lacked size, presence on the palate, structure and acidity and interesting flavor profile (personality). Hopefully off bottle.
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Bright yellow color. Aromas of pineapple, baked pear, apple, and butterscotch. Palate is bright and lemony with pineapple, pear, and some mango and mineral notes that carry into a medium finish. A great showing with more focus than I recall in past bottles of this vintage. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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Stunning stuff. Wide open on the nose with layered aromas of white fruit, mineral, honey and oak spice. Palate his medium body with lip smacking acidity and round, rich fruit. Terrific balance. Deep nuanced flavors. Polished. Long.
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Still a wonderful bottle of Santa Cruz Mts. Chardonnay. A bit more bottle age has rounded the wine out since my last tasting. Light gold color in the glass. Oak and white fruits are now more integrated with a spine of lemon/lime acidity adding an interesting note. In the mouth pineapple and a slight bit of mint along with a honey note. The overt mineral character of the wine is somewhat hidden at least in this bottle. I'd expect this should do fine for another five years or so.
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This is in a great place, showing more savory depth but without sacrificing any freshness. It's like a broth of seashells. Much more vibrancy to this than the 2005 showed last year, though the youthful angularity is now more melted into its flesh. I'm not sure how long it'll continue holding on, but it's definitely worth drinking now.
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Lots of pears and lots of minerality. Good complexity with very special wet rock minerals. Elegant flavors. Hints of many subtle flavors. The advanced, light and intense minerality is inviting for salad and appetizers. Mild acidity with medium finish. I love this wine.
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Wonderful nose with citrus, mineral, and a hint of oak which carries to a delectable palate and finish with refreshing acidity. Drinking beautifully now! Superb with angel hair pasta with creamy garlic prawns.
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First night, a bit ponderous and flat on the palate. Seemed to be a surprising amount of oak (for which I have admittedly a low tolerance). Some nice gunflint on the finish though also some heat there. Just didn't seem very nuanced or precise, especially for the price point. Second night, quite a bit better. More focused and linear attack, with the citrus stepping forward. Sufficient acid to undergird the whole with the oak showing more as background. If I had more bottles I would keep 'em for a while to see what would happen. But this was my only one. 14.2% abv.
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Had to open another bottle today to see if the one from last night was flawed. Still just not sure whether my bottles are flawed or if they simply haven't aged well. Acidity is lacking with very round mouth feel. Definitely exhibits toasty, buttery components which again are surprising. Lacks the lively freshness I hoped for and have seen in other Alpine Chards. Score withheld.
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2nd taste of this, about 2yrs later. I was disappointed it hadn't improved. Pale yellow. Touch of toast on the nose, rich golden fruit, ripe but no tropical notes. Palate had a similar profile, but is surprisingly round,with just enough acidity to keep things together. Concentrated, moderate complexity, but almost flabby and rather unfocused.Good, though not a strong QPR and has not improved over the past 30mos. Worrisome that it won't, but I have little experience with aged chardonnay, so take with a grain of salt.
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Didn't have quite the density I recall from the 2004, this was nonetheless very, very convincing. So far, I have had much better luck with the Chardonnays than the Pinot Noirs. It's very rich, but it carries that richness well.
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Medium-bright yellow color. Aromas of buttered pineapple, mango, kiwi, and honeysuckle. Palate has lemon, lime, pineapple, butterscotch, and some floral elements that lead into a mildly acidic medium-long finish. This doesn't hit the highs of the '04 in my book, but is really satisfying and held well in the bottle overnight. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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A wonderful California Chardonnay. Still fresh green on color. A wonderful honey/floral nose. Fresh citrus, apricot and chalky minerals biting on first attack leading to a long mine rally finish with just a hint of vanilla and oak flaring up.
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Bright yellow-gold color. Rich aroma of sweet lemon, lime, and white flowers. Flavors are of lemon and lime but this is not too acidic and carries a lot of apple and pear elements and a hint of butterscotch and pineapple too. Still lacks the impact of the 2004 for my tastes, but a really great Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay and a wine I look forward to drinking every time I have it. Drink or hold.
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Santa Cruz Mountains Day 2 (Rhys, Big Basin, Plumed Horse): Tasted non blind at the winery with Jeff from an unlabeled split. PnP. Brilliant nose of caramel and lemons. The nose was singing from the moment at was opened. The palate had a stony, light citrus profile with a hint of caramel. The finish was consistent but extraordinarily long in length. For me there were around 8 wines that were a tie for wine of the day but this one was certainly one of the more interesting and was a good experience to see how these age- a real treat. Drink now but probably no need be in a hurry.
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Nose is subtle with pear, lemon curd, floral notes, mineral. This being my first Alpine chard, I was expecting a high acidity, mineral, light palate and instead was presented with a rounder texture with complex penetrating flavors (nuts, ripe pear, lemon, flowers, etc) and a lighter, brassy acidity that just balances without making a statement. It took a second sip to properly tune in. The Puligny descriptors below are about right. Great finesse. Turned our dinner for two into a special occasion.
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Seems a bit advanced, but nice enough. Reticent nose, nice mouth, decent length. Nce fruit - seems a bit like a slightly older premier cru puligny, with nice nutty notes, some dark white fruit, and a good sense of balance. Still, not overwhelming.
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lemon and white flower nose. Taunt, high-toned, structured with lemon citrus, earth, and nice extract. Excellent finish. Could easily age a few years longer but enjoyable now.
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Opened and decanted about 4 hours prior to drinking and served at cellar temp, this went from tightly coiled to very generous. It's quite concentrated on the palate, which gives the impression of richness, but the acidity is very fine and taught, which keeps the whole thing moving on the palate nicely. Drinking very well, I'll be curious to see if this improves with more time or holds at this level.
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Leslie visits Cleveland - Part 1 (Loren's home): Beautiful wine. One of the few Cal Chards I really like. Light golden in color. Showing no age at all. Great nose of lemons peel, some grapefruit, a hint of smokiness, lots of minerals. This is crisp and clean and delicious. There is some oak notes but it adds to the flavors and does not dominate. Great precision. Good acidity. Probably deserved a better pairing than the salad. No hurry on this one.
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Light yellow to perhaps yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of nutmeg, vanilla, cream and mixed yellow fruits. Flavors of yellow pears, lemons and cream. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Medium yellow-gold color. Full nose of butterscotch, lemon, and hazelnut oil. Palate is dense and rich with a vanilla, lemon, and toasted nut core that evolves into a buttered pineapple and quince fruit experience with a lime note that tails into a persistently stony finish that is long. This is richer and fuller than the 2004, which has more of a citrus-mineral focus. This would fool me blind as a Mount Eden of similar vintage. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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Pretty large scaled Chardonnay. Mouthcoating, vivacious and delicious. Oak, pretty much in check.Complex with layers of citrus & tropical flavors. Noticable length. Could use a bit more acidity to offset the scale and be truely spectacular. More Meursault like than Puligny.
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Had w/ Sea Scallops on bed of roasted corn and red peppers w/ Shiitake mushrooms. Wine was pop-n-pour and then consumed over an hour. Well balanced with lemon and apple flavors dominating. I expected more acidity and minerality, but this has a very soft mouth feel right now.
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Light but pretty lemony nose. Medium body with citrusly overtones. Plenty of fruit in balance with the acidity. Nice crisp mouth feel that is very refreshing. Long pretty aftertaste - the wine gets better and better with each glass.
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Pop-n-Pour. First Rhys Chardonnay. High Expectations. On the nose the first thing I noticed was meyer lemon, vanilla marshmallow, and a green apple finish. On the palate, this wine has rather amazing viscosity without being "heavy". Lemon again comes through, but is joined with stone and green apples. The mid-palate sees a rush of welcome acidity, leading into a protracted finish of pecan caramel. I was surprised at how the flavors, were all playing towards the sweet side of the spectrum, and of course an hour later these dissipated. The pecan caramel flavor had become cooked pineapple with a salty/stoney aspect more dominant, and the finish was a salted caramel. Really, quite an interesting wine, and while ready to drink now, I would have liked to try this again in 2-3 years, but this was my only bottle. 50+5+12+17+6
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Color is quite golden, a deeper color than I might expect for a wine of this age, but then I don't have much experience with Chardonnay from this vineyard. Nose is enticing, with some nice stone fruit aromas, bit of peach pit, mineral and hint of smoke. There are deep, rich Chardonnay flavors, nice intensity, particularly in the mid-palate, decent acidity through the finish, which fades away a little more quickly than expected based on the entry and mid-palate intensity. There is a soft lemony acidity, and what seems like some toasted oak on the finish, and some apparent spice that might be wood tannins, some lingering acidity? A good showing for this Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay, with some flashes of Burgundy. I'm not sure how long I might keep this 06, it will be interesting to try this wine in other vintages.
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a true stunner! my favorite cali chards come from rhys. filled with lemony, mineral, vanilla, oily goodness. terrific acid support in the mouth. finishes with more minerals and lemon. note from memory. more complex than this note suggests. very glad to see allocations increase a bit as well as the rolling out of the new appellation offerings.
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Smokey caramel, flint and white flower notes. Orange blossom, butterscotch and lemon oil on a very rich and intense palate. Much riper than the 2007 we drank alongside it and the extra bottle time has allowed it to develop even more power and complexity. Fantastic!
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In terms of California chardonnay, this was really unique and good. Definitely has lemon/citrus and mineral adn just a touch of oak, but it is all so woven together perfectly. Outstanding.
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Well we didn't have a hot summer night but there was enough sunshine to warrant opening the bottle. Such a delicious wine. Shared with the ladies at a Matilda Jane trunk show. Definitely a hit. Wish I had a case!
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San Antonio Wine Geeks (The Home of Dave Lew): Expressive floral nose with concentrated fruit. Big rich round palate with good acidity, and enough vanilla to add complexity without being overbearing. Lengthy vanilla finish adds a some mineral to the acidic backbone. Great precision and balance. Great example of the “bigger” style of Cali chardonnay.
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This was much more open than the bottle opened Christmas 09. Lively and crisp with lingering citrus flavors. No oak or buttery notes. This is a fantastic chard, just wish I could get more than two bottles a year.
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Popped, decanted and tasted, nose of oyster shells, minerally and a nice floral aspect. First taste was nice, but nothing like where it went in an hour. Much bigger, not a burg but not like anything else I have for reference. I got some quince and more oyster shells, with a perfect fruit driving it all. It has a little dryish-ness, just enough from keep it from getting too round.
The finish is laser focused, with the perfect acidity to keep it fresh, and oh how it lingers,,, just a floating light finish. We kept some for after dinner and at the 4 hour mark this was amazing, so good that my brother popped a 2007 Fevre Le Clos (but that is another story) cause it was just that good. What a great way to start and finish a super Valentines Day Dinner with friends and family. Best showing yet.
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Delicious and impressive...but it did feel as though this wine has/had more to give. It evolved throughout a few hours but never felt in a true sweet spot. The profile is a somehow between CA and FRA...good ripe fruit but loads of minerals and a toothsome quality that lingers.
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Didn't take notes, but wanted to stress that if you open one of these now, it should have a long decant and be served with heavier food. This wine is very dense and complex, but tight in a sense. It could use at least 5 years to develop the elegance that it contains.
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14.2% alcohol. This is powerful and refreshing. Light yellow color. Big bouquet of oak, citrus, apple, and pear, with loads of minerals. In the mouth, concentrated and powerful, with great viscosity and texture, although the flavor profile is decidedly refreshing. A terrific lemony streak to the apple and pear fruit, with tremendous purity to the flavors. Loads of minerality and acidity. Long finish. This is just fantastic. A
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Very nice wine but I did not get a lot of time with it given all the family at the table. As noted below, initially fairly tart/acidic, but it seemed to open nicely with air and round out without getting flabby. The oak did not seem to be an issue. Clearly Burgundian in inspiration, but no premox and nice balance of fruit and grip.
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What a wonderful wine to open on a hot summer evening on the deck at the end of a loooong weekend. Wonderful integration of fruit and acidity. Not buttery at all. Fresh and zesty, citrus and pear. Absolutely delightful to drink right now. I will hold my other bottle for a few months but I don't think it will last the year. It is drinking so nicely right now.
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Quick chilled, then popped and poured. My first impression was this was not ready, very acidic immediately upon opening. Left in glass for half hour and it quickly started transforming into one of the best chard I have ever had. it continued to gain in the fruited aspect, and add a slippery mouth coating feel. Better and better over the hour and a half it lasted. I think this is a treasure to have in the cellar, with nothing but upside and nice surprises yet to be discovered!
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What a great New World Chardonnay! With the oak treatment and the overt fruit there is no mistaking this one for anything other than something from California but there is indeed a chalky/minerally finish which has always been present in this wine. Really reminds me of a JJ Prum Spatlese from a classic year (though no R.S. of course) where you could swear that the wine was left to macerate in a tank full of rocks. This is why I drink white wine...
Intense nose of new oak but past that classic aromas of SC mountains pear and apple with a hint of pineapple. Good acidity in the mouth and very well balanced with those great minerals. I guess this has a good a chance as any CA white to age so I'll keep my other bottle around for a while and see what happens but it is soooo good right now that I'd encourage opening one now.
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Rhys (Seasonal): My gut impression on the first sip was that this might be the best-yet chardonnay from Rhys. Just a fantastic texture here. Grippy and with a density that almost feels gelatinous, but not in a flabby way, and it turns fresher and drier as you savor it. Like the '07 it gains in detail as it sits in the glass and eventually develops such a grinding traction to the texture that it's almost more like an Austrian riesling or gruner than any chardonnay you might compare it to. No sign at all of the butteriness it showed two months ago.
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Classic Bordeaux and California Cabs (Casa Dietz - Santa Ana, CA): The fact that this wine was decanted for 8 hours is probably a testament to its quality and potential longevity. Rugged notes of lemon peel, smoke, grilled limes, and crushed shells. Tangy acidity with a long steely finish.
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Old Bordeaux and Cali Cabs at Dietz's (Chez Dietz): Decanted 8 hours prior to consumption. The oak seems to have the microphone at this point. Fat lemon and oak on the nose. Rich lemony palate with tart acidity and a bit of minerals but the oak stands out right now here as well. Took about a glass home and drink mostly the same tonight. Fruit isn't as fat but the oak is still keeping eye contact. Back to sleep with 'em.
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nose of citrus, rocks, some butter, mouthfeel- creamy, more lemon notes, nice acids, a bit of oak to give it a nice balance- better the next day, which opend up more.
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Popped and poured -- noticeable oak with tropical fruits and a mineral finish. Somewhat unctuous mouthfeel, but I would not describe it as buttery. Minerality and light acidity are the predominant characterisitics that remain in my memory. Not completely integrated yet and will be happy to revisit in the future.
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Gorgeous nose of green apple, pear, minerals ... so many minerals. In the mouth, bracing and gorgeous. This is truly like terrific Burgundy. Pure, laser-like fruit, stones, minerals, marvelous acidity. Strong, long finish that shows a hint of oak. This is an eye-opening Chardonnay. A
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Pure and vibrant lemon, concentrated straw, macademia, kiwi, and smooth pebbles. Opens with luscious malo butteryness on your lips, with silky layers of flavor that show more structure as they unfold in the mouth, eventually bringing forth scallions and lime to go with all of the above on the long finish. Simultaneously rich and precise.
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Very full. Nice nose of pineapple and apricot. The oak is too buttery and evident at this point. Not too much complexity yet. A little flat and short on the finish.
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Decanted for 2 hours prior to serving. Very pale straw color when first poured into decanter, an hour later it became much more golden and amber. Nose of quince and apricot. I could hardly detect any oak at all. This was the most Burgundian American wine I have ever had, and one of the best American chards I have ever had the pleasure to drink. Served along side a porcini/ asparagus risotto, and it paired very well. There is enough acid and mineral to compliment very well. A non wine geek friend said "wow this tastes french". Bravo, excellent wine! I really look forward to seeing where this goes in the next 3-5 years.
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A much bigger wine than it was when I first had it almost a year ago, which is a plus in some respects and a minus in others. The plus is that this is even more enveloping on the palate -- unctuous, yes, but in the fashion of a Batard-Montrachet. The minus is that it tastes very buttery at the moment, obscuring a lot of the sandy minerality which doesn't really surface til the finish. I think I might have preferred it if the ~30% new oak were dialed down to zero. But the leftovers two days later are awesome, a totally different wine. The butter is totally gone and it's like drinking quartz.
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Drank next to an '05 Aubert Ritchie. This was much lighter in color and body. More minerality and steelinesss. Very fresh and vibrant. Appreciated each bottle differently.
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Popped and poured, followed over about 2 hours or so. My first Rhys Chardonnay, and it delivered the goods. Lovely chalky minerality, and light lemon notes in the mouth. No obvious oak, and a finish that just pulls at the back of the tongue. Likened to Aubert by my friend who drank this with me. This is exactly what I look for in young Chardonnay. Stunningly good.
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Very nice chardonnay. Combination of subtle fruit and minerality, and a little smoky background note. Reminded me a little bit of a young Roulot wine. I liked it and wish I had more than this one bottle. My discrete CT scale: 95-extraordinary; 90-very good; 85-good; 80-fair; 75-poor
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Fruit evident on first nose. At first a bit austere, lean. Opens up with a mineral characteristic. Fruit comes out, but restrained. A good food friendly wine. Will not "tire out" the tastebuds.
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Rhys and Alesia Spring '08 release dinner (Tabla): No question this is the baby in the flight. Aromatic with scents of fresh greenery, flowers, even aloe, it's so fresh it's only barely recognizable as chardonnay at this point but shares with the '05 and '04 the same racy twinkle. The youthfulness makes the structure somewhat less assertive but it's apparent enough in the way this wavers back and forth between its initial generosity and something more tightly coiled.
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Very light pale gold color. Nose was restrained a bit of acid and minerals and hardly any hint of oak, as it warmed it started showing a bit of cotton candy / banana (which are probably fermentation esters which will disappear with time). Palate was also restrained and tight, but it had a good foundation of fruit and that bracing and characteristic acidity and chalky minerality. This was intentionally throttled back compared to prior vintages, with 14.1% alcohol and only 40% new oak. I think this wine was too young for me to tell much about its eventual development, though it seems to have the potential to be the best one yet.
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A nose dominated by fresh apple and pear, with some flowery notes and a waxy component. The oak is much less visible in this vintage. Interestingly, the percentage of new oak remains unchanged, but there was a change of cooperage for the chardonnay starting in '06. Flavors of young, fresh pome fruits on the palate, with an oily, not quite fat mouthfeel. Acid is good here but doesn't stick out, and a chalky mineral note on the midpalate adds interest. Good length with a persistent aftertaste of creamy oak. Overall it's a fresher, juicier style that lacks the obvious oak inlay of previous vintages. Promising.
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2/19/2024 - jjct Likes this wine:
Last bottle, drinking very well. Generous with matchstick / white Burg characteristics.
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7/31/2023 - jjct Likes this wine:
Drinking great, like an aged Burgundy. This is one of the few Rhys chardonnays I have had that has reached its potential.
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1/29/2023 - Pinotfanbg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light yellow color. A bit of lemon cream and matchstick on this scent. Really nice balance. Light bodied, Acidity resolving. Very pretty flavor of lemon, and matchstick finishing long on flavor with a touch of skin tannin closing the finish. A ringer for premier cru white burgundy. Very enjoyable.
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1/4/2023 - llink wrote: 89 Points
PNP. Medium yellow color. The nose shows tropical fruit, honey, apple cider and spice. Borderline advanced based on the nose. The palate is deep and rich with sneaky, lemony acidity, high glycerol mouthfeel without coming across as cloying.
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10/13/2019 - gzim Likes this wine: 94 Points
Best showing of a Rhys Chard yet.... popped and poured, was very good, decanted for two hours and it was singing. Sweet fruit, lots of complexity and a clean crisp finish. Color was very amber, aging beautifully! Bravo
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9/17/2019 - alanr wrote: 91 Points
Good color, quite rich, very rich, nice umami, good acidity. I think this is a great representation of the Rhys style, vintage, and evolution in the wines. More recent vintages are just a little less flamboyant, and more reserved.
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9/17/2019 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rhys Dinner (Golden Triangle, Los Gatos): This wine was completely muted at first and showed almost nothing on the nose. After about 20 minutes in the glass, finally the nose came through with lemon, minerals, and herb flavors emerging from the glass. On the palate good acidity and flavors of meyer lemon and ripe apples. Long finish. I really liked this wine with some air...
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9/6/2019 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very interesting and still going strong.
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11/5/2018 - MikeCW wrote: 85 Points
Golden hue, nuttiness, just barely hanging on. Probably held on to this too long for my tastes, but lovers of aged Chardonnay would probably think higher of this.
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6/24/2017 - Erik R. wrote: 92 Points
orange pushup evolving to lemon/lime ice, spring flowers, light vanilla wafer. pure lemon sorbet over slate flavors, just delicious and quaffable, with a pleasant aged faint nuttiness, racy long finish. a zippy and rich sc chard. I think the Rhys chards are my favorite out of the portfolio. nose faded over a few hours, so maybe sooner rather than later?
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11/27/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The ‘06 Alpine is in a perfect place today, with a floral-dominated bouquet with notes of sweet cream, almond paste, crushed stone and peach. On the palate, I found silky textures which seemed to envelope the senses, ushering in smoky stone fruits and minerals with a refreshing bump of acidity. It finished long on palate-saturating stony minerality and hints of roasted almond. This was a real treat.
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9/5/2016 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points
Corey and Linda NYC lunch: what a change from initial note to the one 2 hours later. give it time to breathe. initially - lots of power. serious and well balanced... with time - much more aromatic ! Minerality and citrus becoming dominant. still showing some oak but with great elegance. def a bigger wine but quite excellent.
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9/5/2016 - millej Likes this wine:
This was good but not impressive on first pour. One taster thought it a bit reduced, another quite young. After about 2 hours (maybe earlier as I didn't retry before then) it really blossomed with a beautiful nose and the flavors wafting across my palate.
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7/24/2016 - JBVino wrote:
in a really nice place... length, acidity, complexity on the palate. enjoyed
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8/3/2015 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 91 Points
very good wine, drank on Tiff's bday when the P Pernot Bienvenue Batard Montrachet '06 was pre-moxed, this was very good but rounder and richer than i prefer, nonetheless nicely made with decent acid, everyone loved it at the table
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3/7/2015 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 93 Points
It starts with some smoke on nose, which gives way to lemon as it airs out. A nice balance of richness and mineraility and acidity, and while the oak is noticeable, it acts as a spice that complements the savoriness without overwhelming it.
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9/13/2014 - Rangstrom wrote: 92 Points
Excellent with air, but color and initial pours were showing hints of the down slope. I would not sit long on any remaining bottles.
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8/25/2014 - MartyL wrote: 85 Points
This bottle seemed a little past its prime. There's some honeyed aromas and a rich palate weight, but there's a hint of oxidation on the finish, and a little heat from the alcohol. The wine also doesn't show much acidity. Maybe a bad bottle.
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8/17/2014 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
Served blind. Tropical fruit, lemon / minerality on the nose. Mid weight, lush, with nice acidity on the finish. I thought this wine was very 'puligny-like'. I think it would fool many in a blind tasting.
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7/15/2014 - JBVino wrote:
popped and poured...solid expectations for this one after a bottle of 04 knocked it out of the park. unfortunately this bottle fell flat. it lacked size, presence on the palate, structure and acidity and interesting flavor profile (personality). Hopefully off bottle.
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3/27/2014 - WoodieBayArea wrote:
no notes, drank at Bernadette's 50th bday lunch, liked by all, i can't remember much about it
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2/11/2014 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
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2/5/2014 - fredb Likes this wine:
Bright yellow color. Aromas of pineapple, baked pear, apple, and butterscotch. Palate is bright and lemony with pineapple, pear, and some mango and mineral notes that carry into a medium finish. A great showing with more focus than I recall in past bottles of this vintage. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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1/2/2014 - Nanda wrote: 95 Points
Stunning stuff. Wide open on the nose with layered aromas of white fruit, mineral, honey and oak spice. Palate his medium body with lip smacking acidity and round, rich fruit. Terrific balance. Deep nuanced flavors. Polished. Long.
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12/24/2013 - locovino wrote: 93 Points
Still a wonderful bottle of Santa Cruz Mts. Chardonnay. A bit more bottle age has rounded the wine out since my last tasting. Light gold color in the glass. Oak and white fruits are now more integrated with a spine of lemon/lime acidity adding an interesting note. In the mouth pineapple and a slight bit of mint along with a honey note. The overt mineral character of the wine is somewhat hidden at least in this bottle. I'd expect this should do fine for another five years or so.
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10/12/2013 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is in a great place, showing more savory depth but without sacrificing any freshness. It's like a broth of seashells. Much more vibrancy to this than the 2005 showed last year, though the youthful angularity is now more melted into its flesh. I'm not sure how long it'll continue holding on, but it's definitely worth drinking now.
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8/10/2013 - 14frimaire wrote:
Lush and tropical. Still showing wood.
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3/15/2013 - dougie Likes this wine: 94 Points
Started off a bit heavy. But quickly smoothed out with wonderful citrus, apple and mineral. Wow!
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2/2/2013 - wcchang wrote: 94 Points
Lots of pears and lots of minerality. Good complexity with very special wet rock minerals. Elegant flavors. Hints of many subtle flavors. The advanced, light and intense minerality is inviting for salad and appetizers. Mild acidity with medium finish. I love this wine.
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12/29/2012 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful nose with citrus, mineral, and a hint of oak which carries to a delectable palate and finish with refreshing acidity. Drinking beautifully now! Superb with angel hair pasta with creamy garlic prawns.
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12/15/2012 - mye wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful chard.. crisp, delicious.. brief notes
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10/23/2012 - pakabear wrote: 88 Points
This seems to be on the decline from when I last had it. A bit flat and can't hold up to other whites in comparison.
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10/23/2012 - dcwino wrote: 91 Points
Trip’s visit to DC - Ristorante Tosca (Ristorante Tosca, Washington DC): Tropical fruit, passion fruit, pine needle and beeswax. Excellent concentration and bright acidity. A well made Californian chardonnay.
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10/20/2012 - theronware wrote: 89 Points
First night, a bit ponderous and flat on the palate. Seemed to be a surprising amount of oak (for which I have admittedly a low tolerance). Some nice gunflint on the finish though also some heat there. Just didn't seem very nuanced or precise, especially for the price point. Second night, quite a bit better. More focused and linear attack, with the citrus stepping forward. Sufficient acid to undergird the whole with the oak showing more as background. If I had more bottles I would keep 'em for a while to see what would happen. But this was my only one. 14.2% abv.
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9/22/2012 - texaswinelover wrote:
Had to open another bottle today to see if the one from last night was flawed. Still just not sure whether my bottles are flawed or if they simply haven't aged well. Acidity is lacking with very round mouth feel. Definitely exhibits toasty, buttery components which again are surprising. Lacks the lively freshness I hoped for and have seen in other Alpine Chards. Score withheld.
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9/21/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 91 Points
2nd taste of this, about 2yrs later. I was disappointed it hadn't improved. Pale yellow. Touch of toast on the nose, rich golden fruit, ripe but no tropical notes. Palate had a similar profile, but is surprisingly round,with just enough acidity to keep things together. Concentrated, moderate complexity, but almost flabby and rather unfocused.Good, though not a strong QPR and has not improved over the past 30mos. Worrisome that it won't, but I have little experience with aged chardonnay, so take with a grain of salt.
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9/2/2012 - 14frimaire wrote:
Didn't have quite the density I recall from the 2004, this was nonetheless very, very convincing. So far, I have had much better luck with the Chardonnays than the Pinot Noirs. It's very rich, but it carries that richness well.
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7/6/2012 - fredb Likes this wine:
Medium-bright yellow color. Aromas of buttered pineapple, mango, kiwi, and honeysuckle. Palate has lemon, lime, pineapple, butterscotch, and some floral elements that lead into a mildly acidic medium-long finish. This doesn't hit the highs of the '04 in my book, but is really satisfying and held well in the bottle overnight. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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6/17/2012 - Jan Schultink wrote: 91 Points
A wonderful California Chardonnay. Still fresh green on color. A wonderful honey/floral nose. Fresh citrus, apricot and chalky minerals biting on first attack leading to a long mine rally finish with just a hint of vanilla and oak flaring up.
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4/7/2012 - fredb Likes this wine:
Bright yellow-gold color. Rich aroma of sweet lemon, lime, and white flowers. Flavors are of lemon and lime but this is not too acidic and carries a lot of apple and pear elements and a hint of butterscotch and pineapple too. Still lacks the impact of the 2004 for my tastes, but a really great Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay and a wine I look forward to drinking every time I have it. Drink or hold.
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3/23/2012 - floydtp wrote: 94 Points
Santa Cruz Mountains Day 2 (Rhys, Big Basin, Plumed Horse): Tasted non blind at the winery with Jeff from an unlabeled split. PnP. Brilliant nose of caramel and lemons. The nose was singing from the moment at was opened. The palate had a stony, light citrus profile with a hint of caramel. The finish was consistent but extraordinarily long in length. For me there were around 8 wines that were a tie for wine of the day but this one was certainly one of the more interesting and was a good experience to see how these age- a real treat. Drink now but probably no need be in a hurry.
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3/11/2012 - thomaskeil wrote: 93 Points
Nose is subtle with pear, lemon curd, floral notes, mineral. This being my first Alpine chard, I was expecting a high acidity, mineral, light palate and instead was presented with a rounder texture with complex penetrating flavors (nuts, ripe pear, lemon, flowers, etc) and a lighter, brassy acidity that just balances without making a statement. It took a second sip to properly tune in. The Puligny descriptors below are about right. Great finesse. Turned our dinner for two into a special occasion.
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1/30/2012 - jbaron wrote: 90 Points
Seems a bit advanced, but nice enough. Reticent nose, nice mouth, decent length. Nce fruit - seems a bit like a slightly older premier cru puligny, with nice nutty notes, some dark white fruit, and a good sense of balance. Still, not overwhelming.
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1/30/2012 - calnative Likes this wine:
lemon and white flower nose. Taunt, high-toned, structured with lemon citrus, earth, and nice extract. Excellent finish. Could easily age a few years longer but enjoyable now.
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1/7/2012 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
Balanced and flavorful.
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10/1/2011 - jlm wrote:
Opened and decanted about 4 hours prior to drinking and served at cellar temp, this went from tightly coiled to very generous. It's quite concentrated on the palate, which gives the impression of richness, but the acidity is very fine and taught, which keeps the whole thing moving on the palate nicely. Drinking very well, I'll be curious to see if this improves with more time or holds at this level.
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9/5/2011 - Knicksfan wrote: 91 Points
Definitely not your typical Cali chard. Notes of lemon, apple, grapefruit in a restrained complex package with good minerality and acid. Very nice.
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8/6/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Leslie visits Cleveland - Part 1 (Loren's home): Beautiful wine. One of the few Cal Chards I really like. Light golden in color. Showing no age at all. Great nose of lemons peel, some grapefruit, a hint of smokiness, lots of minerals. This is crisp and clean and delicious. There is some oak notes but it adds to the flavors and does not dominate. Great precision. Good acidity. Probably deserved a better pairing than the salad. No hurry on this one.
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7/23/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
Sacred Cow Rocky Mountain Offline - Day 4 (CAVU Cabin, Hartsel, CO): WIML92
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.
Light yellow to perhaps yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of nutmeg, vanilla, cream and mixed yellow fruits. Flavors of yellow pears, lemons and cream. Medium acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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5/25/2011 - fredb Likes this wine:
Medium yellow-gold color. Full nose of butterscotch, lemon, and hazelnut oil. Palate is dense and rich with a vanilla, lemon, and toasted nut core that evolves into a buttered pineapple and quince fruit experience with a lime note that tails into a persistently stony finish that is long. This is richer and fuller than the 2004, which has more of a citrus-mineral focus. This would fool me blind as a Mount Eden of similar vintage. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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5/22/2011 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Pretty large scaled Chardonnay. Mouthcoating, vivacious and delicious. Oak, pretty much in check.Complex with layers of citrus & tropical flavors. Noticable length. Could use a bit more acidity to offset the scale and be truely spectacular. More Meursault like than Puligny.
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4/2/2011 - VinoDiver wrote: 91 Points
Had w/ Sea Scallops on bed of roasted corn and red peppers w/ Shiitake mushrooms.
Wine was pop-n-pour and then consumed over an hour. Well balanced with lemon and apple flavors dominating. I expected more acidity and minerality, but this has a very soft mouth feel right now.
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3/26/2011 - Marc McSorley wrote: 93 Points
very good with scalops
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3/9/2011 - cookie7 wrote:
Buttered popcorn on the nose. Green apple on the palate. Full-bodied finishes with nice oak. I think this is at or nearing its peak.
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2/22/2011 - pismo45 wrote: 92 Points
Light but pretty lemony nose. Medium body with citrusly overtones. Plenty of fruit in balance with the acidity. Nice crisp mouth feel that is very refreshing. Long pretty aftertaste - the wine gets better and better with each glass.
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2/20/2011 - psirah wrote: 90 Points
Pop-n-Pour. First Rhys Chardonnay. High Expectations.
On the nose the first thing I noticed was meyer lemon, vanilla marshmallow, and a green apple finish. On the palate, this wine has rather amazing viscosity without being "heavy". Lemon again comes through, but is joined with stone and green apples. The mid-palate sees a rush of welcome acidity, leading into a protracted finish of pecan caramel.
I was surprised at how the flavors, were all playing towards the sweet side of the spectrum, and of course an hour later these dissipated. The pecan caramel flavor had become cooked pineapple with a salty/stoney aspect more dominant, and the finish was a salted caramel.
Really, quite an interesting wine, and while ready to drink now, I would have liked to try this again in 2-3 years, but this was my only bottle.
50+5+12+17+6
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2/14/2011 - alanr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Color is quite golden, a deeper color than I might expect for a wine of this age, but then I don't have much experience with Chardonnay from this vineyard. Nose is enticing, with some nice stone fruit aromas, bit of peach pit, mineral and hint of smoke. There are deep, rich Chardonnay flavors, nice intensity, particularly in the mid-palate, decent acidity through the finish, which fades away a little more quickly than expected based on the entry and mid-palate intensity. There is a soft lemony acidity, and what seems like some toasted oak on the finish, and some apparent spice that might be wood tannins, some lingering acidity? A good showing for this Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay, with some flashes of Burgundy. I'm not sure how long I might keep this 06, it will be interesting to try this wine in other vintages.
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2/12/2011 - etherscreen wrote:
a true stunner! my favorite cali chards come from rhys. filled with lemony, mineral, vanilla, oily goodness. terrific acid support in the mouth. finishes with more minerals and lemon. note from memory. more complex than this note suggests. very glad to see allocations increase a bit as well as the rolling out of the new appellation offerings.
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2/1/2011 - mlawren1 wrote: 92 Points
Crispy and clean. Nice green apple and lime. Finishes with a bite of acidity tempered with a bit of oiliness.
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1/29/2011 - jreis wrote:
Smokey caramel, flint and white flower notes. Orange blossom, butterscotch and lemon oil on a very rich and intense palate. Much riper than the 2007 we drank alongside it and the extra bottle time has allowed it to develop even more power and complexity. Fantastic!
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10/17/2010 - rralls wrote: 93 Points
In terms of California chardonnay, this was really unique and good. Definitely has lemon/citrus and mineral adn just a touch of oak, but it is all so woven together perfectly. Outstanding.
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8/28/2010 - etherscreen wrote:
um...one word - sublime!
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8/8/2010 - BonnieM wrote:
Well we didn't have a hot summer night but there was enough sunshine to warrant opening the bottle. Such a delicious wine. Shared with the ladies at a Matilda Jane trunk show. Definitely a hit. Wish I had a case!
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4/2/2010 - JFish wrote:
Without a doubt the best chardonnay I've ever had. Ripe citrus, minerals, round but not fat or buttery. Wow.
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3/19/2010 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks (The Home of Dave Lew): Expressive floral nose with concentrated fruit. Big rich round palate with good acidity, and enough vanilla to add complexity without being overbearing. Lengthy vanilla finish adds a some mineral to the acidic backbone. Great precision and balance. Great example of the “bigger” style of Cali chardonnay.
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2/20/2010 - fisk15 wrote: 95 Points
This was much more open than the bottle opened Christmas 09. Lively and crisp with lingering citrus flavors. No oak or buttery notes. This is a fantastic chard, just wish I could get more than two bottles a year.
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2/15/2010 - gzim wrote: 95 Points
Popped, decanted and tasted, nose of oyster shells, minerally and a nice floral aspect. First taste was nice, but nothing like where it went in an hour. Much bigger, not a burg but not like anything else I have for reference. I got some quince and more oyster shells, with a perfect fruit driving it all. It has a little dryish-ness, just enough from keep it from getting too round.
The finish is laser focused, with the perfect acidity to keep it fresh, and oh how it lingers,,, just a floating light finish.
We kept some for after dinner and at the 4 hour mark this was amazing, so good that my brother popped a 2007 Fevre Le Clos (but that is another story) cause it was just that good. What a great way to start and finish a super Valentines Day Dinner with friends and family. Best showing yet.
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12/27/2009 - djb wrote: 91 Points
Delicious and impressive...but it did feel as though this wine has/had more to give. It evolved throughout a few hours but never felt in a true sweet spot. The profile is a somehow between CA and FRA...good ripe fruit but loads of minerals and a toothsome quality that lingers.
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11/28/2009 - yhn wrote: 93 Points
Didn't take notes, but wanted to stress that if you open one of these now, it should have a long decant and be served with heavier food. This wine is very dense and complex, but tight in a sense. It could use at least 5 years to develop the elegance that it contains.
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10/19/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
14.2% alcohol. This is powerful and refreshing. Light yellow color. Big bouquet of oak, citrus, apple, and pear, with loads of minerals. In the mouth, concentrated and powerful, with great viscosity and texture, although the flavor profile is decidedly refreshing. A terrific lemony streak to the apple and pear fruit, with tremendous purity to the flavors. Loads of minerality and acidity. Long finish. This is just fantastic. A
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8/31/2009 - Mr T wrote:
Very nice wine but I did not get a lot of time with it given all the family at the table. As noted below, initially fairly tart/acidic, but it seemed to open nicely with air and round out without getting flabby. The oak did not seem to be an issue. Clearly Burgundian in inspiration, but no premox and nice balance of fruit and grip.
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7/12/2009 - BonnieM wrote:
What a wonderful wine to open on a hot summer evening on the deck at the end of a loooong weekend. Wonderful integration of fruit and acidity. Not buttery at all. Fresh and zesty, citrus and pear. Absolutely delightful to drink right now. I will hold my other bottle for a few months but I don't think it will last the year. It is drinking so nicely right now.
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7/12/2009 - gzim wrote: 93 Points
Quick chilled, then popped and poured. My first impression was this was not ready, very acidic immediately upon opening. Left in glass for half hour and it quickly started transforming into one of the best chard I have ever had. it continued to gain in the fruited aspect, and add a slippery mouth coating feel. Better and better over the hour and a half it lasted. I think this is a treasure to have in the cellar, with nothing but upside and nice surprises yet to be discovered!
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7/7/2009 - locovino wrote: 95 Points
What a great New World Chardonnay! With the oak treatment and the overt fruit there is no mistaking this one for anything other than something from California but there is indeed a chalky/minerally finish which has always been present in this wine. Really reminds me of a JJ Prum Spatlese from a classic year (though no R.S. of course) where you could swear that the wine was left to macerate in a tank full of rocks. This is why I drink white wine...
Intense nose of new oak but past that classic aromas of SC mountains pear and apple with a hint of pineapple. Good acidity in the mouth and very well balanced with those great minerals. I guess this has a good a chance as any CA white to age so I'll keep my other bottle around for a while and see what happens but it is soooo good right now that I'd encourage opening one now.
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4/24/2009 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 93 Points
Rhys (Seasonal): My gut impression on the first sip was that this might be the best-yet chardonnay from Rhys. Just a fantastic texture here. Grippy and with a density that almost feels gelatinous, but not in a flabby way, and it turns fresher and drier as you savor it. Like the '07 it gains in detail as it sits in the glass and eventually develops such a grinding traction to the texture that it's almost more like an Austrian riesling or gruner than any chardonnay you might compare it to. No sign at all of the butteriness it showed two months ago.
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4/11/2009 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
Classic Bordeaux and California Cabs (Casa Dietz - Santa Ana, CA): The fact that this wine was decanted for 8 hours is probably a testament to its quality and potential longevity. Rugged notes of lemon peel, smoke, grilled limes, and crushed shells. Tangy acidity with a long steely finish.
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4/11/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Old Bordeaux and Cali Cabs at Dietz's (Chez Dietz): Decanted 8 hours prior to consumption. The oak seems to have the microphone at this point. Fat lemon and oak on the nose. Rich lemony palate with tart acidity and a bit of minerals but the oak stands out right now here as well. Took about a glass home and drink mostly the same tonight. Fruit isn't as fat but the oak is still keeping eye contact. Back to sleep with 'em.
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3/23/2009 - yui wrote: 90 Points
nose of citrus, rocks, some butter, mouthfeel- creamy, more lemon notes, nice acids, a bit of oak to give it a nice balance- better the next day, which opend up more.
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3/22/2009 - andolini wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured -- noticeable oak with tropical fruits and a mineral finish. Somewhat unctuous mouthfeel, but I would not describe it as buttery. Minerality and light acidity are the predominant characterisitics that remain in my memory. Not completely integrated yet and will be happy to revisit in the future.
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3/20/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
Gorgeous nose of green apple, pear, minerals ... so many minerals. In the mouth, bracing and gorgeous. This is truly like terrific Burgundy. Pure, laser-like fruit, stones, minerals, marvelous acidity. Strong, long finish that shows a hint of oak. This is an eye-opening Chardonnay. A
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3/8/2009 - silton wrote: 93 Points
Pure and vibrant lemon, concentrated straw, macademia, kiwi, and smooth pebbles. Opens with luscious malo butteryness on your lips, with silky layers of flavor that show more structure as they unfold in the mouth, eventually bringing forth scallions and lime to go with all of the above on the long finish. Simultaneously rich and precise.
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3/1/2009 - popquizkid wrote: 89 Points
Very full. Nice nose of pineapple and apricot. The oak is too buttery and evident at this point. Not too much complexity yet. A little flat and short on the finish.
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2/21/2009 - gzim wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 2 hours prior to serving. Very pale straw color when first poured into decanter, an hour later it became much more golden and amber. Nose of quince and apricot. I could hardly detect any oak at all. This was the most Burgundian American wine I have ever had, and one of the best American chards I have ever had the pleasure to drink. Served along side a porcini/ asparagus risotto, and it paired very well. There is enough acid and mineral to compliment very well. A non wine geek friend said "wow this tastes french".
Bravo, excellent wine! I really look forward to seeing where this goes in the next 3-5 years.
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2/17/2009 - Keith Levenberg wrote:
A much bigger wine than it was when I first had it almost a year ago, which is a plus in some respects and a minus in others. The plus is that this is even more enveloping on the palate -- unctuous, yes, but in the fashion of a Batard-Montrachet. The minus is that it tastes very buttery at the moment, obscuring a lot of the sandy minerality which doesn't really surface til the finish. I think I might have preferred it if the ~30% new oak were dialed down to zero. But the leftovers two days later are awesome, a totally different wine. The butter is totally gone and it's like drinking quartz.
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2/9/2009 - cookie7 wrote: 92 Points
Drank next to an '05 Aubert Ritchie. This was much lighter in color and body. More minerality and steelinesss. Very fresh and vibrant. Appreciated each bottle differently.
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2/7/2009 - Siggy wrote: 90 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - West Coast Cabernet (Dave McMahon's House, Minneapolis): Nicely fresh and long in the mouth, this combines steely lemon and minerals with ripe, racy tropical fruit. Stylistically, this has Burgundian weight and texture, but the fruit is unmistakably California.
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1/17/2009 - rjoyer wrote:
Popped and poured, followed over about 2 hours or so. My first Rhys Chardonnay, and it delivered the goods. Lovely chalky minerality, and light lemon notes in the mouth. No obvious oak, and a finish that just pulls at the back of the tongue. Likened to Aubert by my friend who drank this with me. This is exactly what I look for in young Chardonnay. Stunningly good.
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1/4/2009 - joe d wrote: 85 Points
Very nice chardonnay. Combination of subtle fruit and minerality, and a little smoky background note. Reminded me a little bit of a young Roulot wine. I liked it and wish I had more than this one bottle.
My discrete CT scale: 95-extraordinary; 90-very good; 85-good; 80-fair; 75-poor
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12/19/2008 - old tractor wrote: 91 Points
Fruit evident on first nose. At first a bit austere, lean. Opens up with a mineral characteristic. Fruit comes out, but restrained. A good food friendly wine. Will not "tire out" the tastebuds.
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11/27/2008 - Tel007 wrote:
Excellent. Incredible minerality. Drinking very well now
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4/9/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 90 Points
Rhys and Alesia Spring '08 release dinner (Tabla): No question this is the baby in the flight. Aromatic with scents of fresh greenery, flowers, even aloe, it's so fresh it's only barely recognizable as chardonnay at this point but shares with the '05 and '04 the same racy twinkle. The youthfulness makes the structure somewhat less assertive but it's apparent enough in the way this wavers back and forth between its initial generosity and something more tightly coiled.
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2/6/2008 - PaulH wrote:
Very light pale gold color. Nose was restrained a bit of acid and minerals and hardly any hint of oak, as it warmed it started showing a bit of cotton candy / banana (which are probably fermentation esters which will disappear with time). Palate was also restrained and tight, but it had a good foundation of fruit and that bracing and characteristic acidity and chalky minerality. This was intentionally throttled back compared to prior vintages, with 14.1% alcohol and only 40% new oak. I think this wine was too young for me to tell much about its eventual development, though it seems to have the potential to be the best one yet.
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2/6/2008 - 5laton wrote:
A nose dominated by fresh apple and pear, with some flowery notes and a waxy component. The oak is much less visible in this vintage. Interestingly, the percentage of new oak remains unchanged, but there was a change of cooperage for the chardonnay starting in '06. Flavors of young, fresh pome fruits on the palate, with an oily, not quite fat mouthfeel. Acid is good here but doesn't stick out, and a chalky mineral note on the midpalate adds interest. Good length with a persistent aftertaste of creamy oak. Overall it's a fresher, juicier style that lacks the obvious oak inlay of previous vintages. Promising.
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