February 23, 2023 - Much much better than I was expecting. Purchased on release and left untouched in a cold cellar for the last 15 years, this bottle had a nice peaceful slumber until my Durand put an end to that a few nights ago. Gorgeous pinot nose of bright cherries, dusty earth, and a bit of stemmy spice (I imagine this had a decent amount of whole cluster). Soft, elegant, and very pretty. This could benefit from a bit more acidity and energy, but if you don't think too hard about it, it's really easy to enjoy, and I had a hard time saving some for the next day to see how it evolved. Fortunately I didn't save much because it was all downhill on day 2. But well-stored bottles should continue to give some immediate pleasure for a few more years.
July 9, 2021 - Nearly as good as my previous bottle - but a touch of VA got in the way, and the fruit had receded a tiny bit too much for my taste. Still, fabulous mix of earth, mushrooms, dried flowers, and sour cherries. Good acidity.
June 16, 2021 - Cork from hell - but lovely bottle of wine! One of the few CA Pinots I have tasted that truly blossomed after a decade plus of cellaring. Fabulous mix of earth, mushroosm, dried flowers, and sour cherries. Good acidity. Bought it in the secondary market for under $30, so happy as a clam with it! (Drinks better than most aged CA PN’s I’ve tasted, including PN’s in the $90-$120 range).
March 12, 2021 - I didn’t think I’d need the Durand for a 2006, , but it was the cork from hell. Crumbled/disintegrated, tried using Ah So and just moved it around, eventually punched a hole through and decanted through screen. The wine was actually fine, red cherry and cranberry, some spice, good acids, plenty of life. B/B+
August 24, 2020 - In a good place right now.
April 5, 2019 - This has blossomed significantly since my last tasting about two years ago. Beautiful floral earthy red and purple fruits such as pomegranate and boysenberry with complicating notes of forest floor, nutmeg, and violets. The palate is stunning with super seductive earthy fruit, caressing tannins, and tremendous persistence. This wine gives me a lot of confidence in all the Rhys I have aging in my cellar.
August 27, 2018 - I wonder if heat damaged. Would have guessed Syrah if tasted blind.
July 29, 2018 - At twelve years, this was an intellectually stunning wine. Bravo!!
February 21, 2018 - Very pretty but really blossoms with air, as tangerine peel and a little pine cones out to play, clearly California but with class and restraint. Still plenty of gas left in the tank on this one but it is very good now with some time open.
July 29, 2017 - Super delicate and reticent, almost too much so. Still this has developed beautifully if you like restrained pure Pinot. Damp earth, nutmeg, slate, violets, raspberries. Refreshing to know this style exists in California. I cannot wait for the Rhys in my cellar to mature.