February 29, 2024 - -- decanted 30 min. before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 - 3 hrs. --
NOSE: mouthwatering, spice-inflected red-fruited aromas; can smell some age; medium-light aged Pinot funk ... or brett.
BODY: medium-dark ruby color with slight bricking throughout; medium-shallow to medium depth of color; medium-light to medium bodied.
TASTE: high acidity; slightly-drying front-palate tannin; some funk (possibly brett); spicy, red-fruited with some funk; hint of stony mineral; don't see room for improvement, so Drink Now.
February 9, 2024 - Opened nicely over 60 minutes; a bit too tart at first taste, but the fruit showed up with some air to balance it
October 7, 2023 - Stood up for several weeks. Decanted off a mild amount of fine sediment. Now 2.5h after decant. Nice, entcing but somewhat shy aromas of black cherries, mild blackberries, some herbs, bark, some sous bois. Palate w red and black cherries, some cranberry, minerals, herbs, bark, excellent minerals and a touch of earth. Medium+ body w excellent acids. Mild tannins on midpalate. Nice lingering finish. 13 yrs old and doesn't feel like it's at peak with more lurking underneath on the palate. Taking on aged characteristics. Palate doesn't match the complexity of the nose yet. Good now but I suspect the palate will catch up to the nose in 2-5 yrs.
August 25, 2023 - Beautiful perfume and spice, soft and languid on the mid palate. Long finish. This Pinot kicks ass.
August 9, 2023 - This is pleasant and dialed-back right now, with soft and restrained fruit mellowed out but still holding on to its bright cranberry snap, laced with rusty iron. This doesn't get the Santa Cruz appellation but its minerally profile is very reminiscent of the old SCM pinots from Mt. Eden, with a lighter touch.
March 8, 2023 - As delicious as the last bottle!
November 3, 2022 - DAY 1
Served this with the Vinloq System
👃Cranberry/cherry, spicy, cedar, earth and tar. This is expressive. Florals and touch of mint
👅Cedar notes with red fruit and florals. Clearly stem inclusion was used. Asian spice/licorice.
The tannins are soft and well integrated. Med body with med + acidity. Drinking well
The remaining wine was Slow Decanted ™ in my refrigerator
DAY 8
-Lovely fruit, spices, purple florals, soft integrated tannins. Really beautiful. Expressive but stays refined and elegant
-Good complexity with some secondary development. Stays light throughout. Still youthful and vibrant. This will stay interesting for some time👍🍷
July 10, 2022 - Dalluge's btl tonight was drinking great tonight with nearly 12yrs under its belt. Semi translucent magenta red when poured. Then darkening a bit in glass. Delivered a level of finesse, balance & tasty red fruit I rarely find in CA PNs. Very very nice! Fun to revisit this producer.
April 28, 2022 - Dark garnet and clear at the rim. Paler than some other Rhys I've opened recently. Attractive nose of raspberry, cranberry and a chalky minerality. The palate is medium-bodied and silky with a bright acidity and a hint of mature fruit flavors. Light, powdery tannins remain and frame a respectable finish. This is drinking on the early end of maturity to my palate, and while it's very enjoyable, it isn't especially complex. Surely has many years in its plateau though.
January 20, 2022 - It's like I'm drinking a different bottle from everyone else. I don't get dark cherry and blueberry, I get more brighter fruit like a tart cranberry. Very nice for my palate.