April 20, 2023 - One off ($29.99) from the big box wine store about a year ago. On the nose and palate, strawberries and red cherries and currants turning into darker fruit on night 2, earthy minerality, exotic spice and a light floral note. Medium burgundy darkening with air, medium to full bodied, thick legs. Medium- acidity, no heat. Good+ complexity, persistence and intensity. Although I’ve fallen off in my purchases from this producer—I used to love its parties in the Adam Lee years—I’ve always found its Pinots to be consistently very good, and if you shopped around, compellingly valued, and this would be no exception (I note for other old timers: Perry is the old Keefer Ranch). No one is going to confuse this with a Gevrey Chambertin, but there’s enough savoriness here, and a lighter hand on oak, alcohol, baking spice, etc. that you won’t mistake it for KB or Lynmar, either. Really nice to sip on its own but also an excellent complement to chicken orzo and seared salmon. The tone of the wine darkened, as mentioned above, on the second night, with some ebbing of acidity (that wasn’t that great to begin with), but it was solid in both cases. Seems to be in a really good spot now, but should have several years left (CT window a good bit too short). I find most of the CA pinots I drink end up in a fairly tight 90-93 range (interestingly, the outliers in both directions in the past year or so were both made by Rhys), and that’s consistently the case for this producer. As an easy to slot in weekday wine to somewhat bring down the wine spend you could do, and I have, done lots worse. Recommended. 91-92+
June 27, 2021 - Impressive pinot with black-cherry/strawberry fruit in perfect balance with many other grace notes, from spice to floral. Long finish. Wonderful paired with salmon in blackberry sauce.
June 2, 2021 - Intriguing, earthy and complex on the nose, with cranberry, rhubarb, mushroom, smoke, coffee and dried herbs. Less complex on the palate, where earthiness gives way to zesty and tart red fruit. Silky texture and rounded tannins provide structure. This is good, and would be even better if the promise of the bouquet was followed through!
February 2, 2021 - Great wine for the price. Black cherry, hints of cola. Heavy baking spice. Medium acidity. Really great qpr and drinking beautiful at this point.
July 31, 2020 - Coronacation
April 13, 2019 - This was delightful, with cherry pie and raspberry flavors, Baking spices fill the nose, and the finish sails on and on. Great QPR relative to much more expensive California pinots.
January 15, 2019 - Red fruit, berry, tobacco finish