The first Rhys Home Vineyard bottle I’ve really “gotten” - and this one was worth it. Definitely heavy on the whole cluster but with 11 years’ age, that’s an unambiguous positive. Big flavor in a medium to light body, perfect balance. Wonderful with roast chicken.
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Color: medium ruby with some brown Nose: fleshy dark fruit, dark cherry and blackberry. Bay leaf, silicone, old book, something like faint caramel, candied violet Palate: intense, medium-high acidity, medium tannins mostly felt on the tongue, good balance on a body I'd call medium-full. Confirms the nose aromatically Finish: medium
Dark but not quite brooding, kept food friendly by a great acid backbone, nice tannins, this is a big Pinot. I had it with salmon but that was not the right idea, this would have been better with chicken persillade or similarly flavored white meat. Had it from bottle at room temp, best about an hour and a half after opening. Not a hint of Brett, to which I am very sensitive. Lucky bottle it seems
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Decanted for sediment. 2nd of three bought at auction, soaked cork, signs of past seepage. Still drinkable, enjoyable even, didn’t come across flawed although I assume more advanced than well kept bottles. Makes me rethink my Dec ‘21 note, this came from the same lot - perhaps that bottle had some heat damage as well.
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Not sure if flawed, mildly brett or just an off bottle. The aroma and flavor seems slightly muted, not as pronounced as the last bottle. Not terrible, but not what I expected either.
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-- decanted for about 30 min. before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over 2.5 hrs on Day 1; revisited on Day 3 --
NOSE: expressive; high-toned; earthy; red fruits (cherry and strawberry); wet stones mineral aspect; tightened-up over 2.5 hrs. on Day 1. On Day 3, the brett had intensified, presenting a very medicinal band-aid overtone to the Nose.
BODY: dark garnet color of medium depth; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: medium-light to medium concentration of fruit flavor; red-fruited, with some leather (it's brett); no tannins; medium acidity; Drink Now and over the near term. Day 3: medicinal note is strong -- canker sore medicine I remember from my kid days -- and Band-aid brett. Ultimately marking this as Flawed, but my Day 1 score is below:
50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89
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When this was first opened I wondered if it might have some Brett, but that influence faded into a balanced, gentle earthiness of tertiary complexity. Slightly more fruit expression than the 2010 or 2012 Home drunk at the same age. Harmonious middleweight to drink or hold.
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PNP. Followed over several hours. Red fruited, more on the earthy, savory side. Elegant and well balanced, but subdued for me tonight. This wine demanded my attention to appreciate the nuances.
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With all the recent glowing reviews, I had high expectations for this bottle. I found the nose promising with cherry perfume scents. But I found the wine a bit too savory with high tannins and drying fruit. Felt out of balance and past its prime. I have two more bottles in storage, so will check back in a year or two.
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I've been buying Rhys since and '08? vintage, and yet to have been "wowed". Don't get me wrong, the wines are very well made, but I have yet to have had a profound experience. This was different. Show stopper from the initial pour--but in an elegant subtle way that creeps up on you. Beautiful red cherry fruit, but clean and pure. Fine tannins and acidity, with deft spice notes that add complexity. Lengthy finish, some fruit and a hint of wet earth. Excellent pinot, seems to still be on the upswing but enjoyable now.
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Earthy, balanced, medium-to-full bodied. Red fruit leads the way on the nose with some forest floor and crushed rock. Flavors of strawberries, pepper and fine tannin. In perfect balance. Going strong. Not even close to losing anything due to age. Plenty of years left here. This just tells me I need to work harder to hold back some of my younger Rhys bottles for aging. This is very difficult to do since they drink so well young. And old.
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Gorgeous deep ruby color, but crystal clear. Bottle shows very fine sediment. The aromatics are distinctly earthy, like chalky stone dust, with dark berry fruits (blackberry, black raspberry) beneath. This is earthier than Alpine and Horseshoe typically show - though I admittedly have less experience with Home vineyard. The palate is rich but medium bodied, with the effortless weightlessness of very well integrated acidity. The finish is long and savory, with impressive focus, and some fine-grained tannins creep in around the edge. This was drinking exceptionally well now, but it will surely continue to develop for some years yet.
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5 Great Wines: Rhys, Chevillon, Dutraive, Biggio Hamina: This was the second wine of the night. The color was very dark but fairly transparent. I picked up pretty blackberry and dark forest berries. There were lovely blackberry cobbler/warm rocks/bakery aromas emanating from the glass. This was very fluid and juicy, and full in the mouth. This was very complex and interesting, and, I think, the best Home I have had!
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Not at all mature, but drinking quite well now, the 2013 Home is showing plenty of red fruit, along with a touch of spice and a loamy undertone. It’s persistent and quite mouthfilling, but not at all heavy. If I had more I would wait 2-4 more years prior to opening another. It still has some finishing structure that will mellow out with additional time. Lovely wine with a bright future.
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Interesting herbal/spicy nose--not fruity, at all. There is red fruit on the tip of the tongue--tart and refreshing, not cloying, at all. Acid is very noticeable--in the tartness of the fruit and the spritziness on the edges of the tongue. Medium-boded, Some retro-nasal earthiness. Mosty tartness, again, in the aftertaste,
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Decanted for an hour, but still very tightly wound in both nose and palate. There is a decided minerality to this wine, in nose, palate, and structure, which I think bodes well for further ageing. Rose petal, dark red fruit, and herbal aromas are followed by light smoke, tar, and black cherry flavors. It has a nice long finish. A wonderful wine, and I'll look forward to retasting in a few years!
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This is amazing in a curious way. Cellared since delivery from Rhys. Effusive nose, the nose baffles me. Best I can compare the nose to is old school napa Cab...am I crazy?? Big dose of oak on nose, bit of sandlewood(?). Bracing acidity on the palate, mellows with time after opening. Sour cherries and just the right amount of steminess. Love this wine, very unique Pinot. It’s just the cab comments are curious given 13% abv. Would be very interesting double blind...
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13% abv. Burgundy red, expressive aromas. Cranberry, tart cherry, black tea with a saline, herbal overtone. Noticeable tannic structure, this wine, while enjoyable now, will improve with several more years in the cellar.
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13% abv. Medium burgundy red, expressive aromas. Raspberry, pomegranate, mint and lilacs dominate a rich, long and focused palate impression. This appears to have the structure for extended improvement.
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Young. Gains focus with an hour of air. Pop and pour and followed for a day. Red fruit (cranberry, red cherry), earth, some herbs, and a little plum on the nose. Cranberry, cherry, earth, and some richness from the oak on the palate. Bright acidity, fine but present tannins, medium finish. Lots of complex elements come out on the finish. There’s also a nice richness to this wine, despite the reasonably low alcohol. This needs at least another year or two, but the quality is quite obvious.
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Pop and pour. Initially tasted wth food (fettucine with a tomato sauce, in case you were wondering). Then enjoyed without food. Followed for about 4 hours. Ruby color. Clear. Nose shows spice and forest floor. Sme pine sap notes. At first, this has a bright cranberry snap to it. With time, the fruit profile takes on weight. Shows some cherry notes and a darker fruit profile. There is a good core of pepper and brow spices with a bowl of mixed berries and dark fruit. Good acidity. Delicious.
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Disappointed.... for a Rhys Home Vineyard, expected much more. Flavors were a bit loose, acid profile seemed off, not as razor sharp on structure as usually is the case. Will drink my other bottle in a year and see how it compares.
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Drinking down the cellar before I move. Drank this wine with pizza... I know, I know. Anyway, a lot of the flavors of this wine have blended together. This is top of the line California Pinot. Nose is good, palate is good. These guys are on killing it.
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A magnificent Pinot that provides depth with elegance. Light red in color, light in body, welcoming nose of rose petals and spice. Tastes of sour cherry, raspberry, and gravel, with a lingering finish. 13% alcohol. This is not quite as amazing as their Horseshoe or Alpine pinots, but there is no doubt - at least for me - that Rhys belongs among the best American producers of Pinot today.
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Opened this by mistake thought it was the different vineyard, oh well. This wine is lovely, very nice balance with a nice long finish. Could use some more time in the cellar as I think it will blend all the flavors to a better wine with some time.
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This might be the most structured Home released to date, but it's not closed. It is however very busy with a jumble of things going on right away - a streak of green stemminess, bright, zingy red fruit, a dash of sophisticated oak spice. Sometimes the Rhys wines on release show a lot of sweet primary fruit that needs some airing to mellow out, but that's not the case with this one, the fruit is already fairly restrained right out of the gate. it *still* moves to the background though, and it doesn't take time before the wine is barely showing any fruit at all, just a blue/black complexion and an intense sensation of crushed stones, which combined with the powerful tannin make the texture of this thing very palpably grainy. It stays very drinkable though, never drying on the palate. Not as elegant as some vintages of Home have been, but the complexity is here.
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3/22/2024 - Jahull03 wrote:
The first Rhys Home Vineyard bottle I’ve really “gotten” - and this one was worth it. Definitely heavy on the whole cluster but with 11 years’ age, that’s an unambiguous positive. Big flavor in a medium to light body, perfect balance. Wonderful with roast chicken.
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9/8/2023 - stet Likes this wine: 91 Points
Color: medium ruby with some brown
Nose: fleshy dark fruit, dark cherry and blackberry. Bay leaf, silicone, old book, something like faint caramel, candied violet
Palate: intense, medium-high acidity, medium tannins mostly felt on the tongue, good balance on a body I'd call medium-full. Confirms the nose aromatically
Finish: medium
Dark but not quite brooding, kept food friendly by a great acid backbone, nice tannins, this is a big Pinot. I had it with salmon but that was not the right idea, this would have been better with chicken persillade or similarly flavored white meat. Had it from bottle at room temp, best about an hour and a half after opening. Not a hint of Brett, to which I am very sensitive. Lucky bottle it seems
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8/9/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:
Decanted for sediment. 2nd of three bought at auction, soaked cork, signs of past seepage. Still drinkable, enjoyable even, didn’t come across flawed although I assume more advanced than well kept bottles. Makes me rethink my Dec ‘21 note, this came from the same lot - perhaps that bottle had some heat damage as well.
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6/12/2023 - gharter wrote:
Not sure if flawed, mildly brett or just an off bottle. The aroma and flavor seems slightly muted, not as pronounced as the last bottle. Not terrible, but not what I expected either.
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5/26/2023 - bonedoc wrote:
Ditto last note, slight brett.
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5/1/2023 - Merengue wrote:
Old world in style this had a pronounced brett note that did not blow off. Not the level of quality i am
Used to with Rhys. Off bottle?
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1/19/2023 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
As tasty as the last bottle!
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1/16/2023 - grafstrb wrote: flawed
-- decanted for about 30 min. before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2.5 hrs on Day 1; revisited on Day 3 --
NOSE: expressive; high-toned; earthy; red fruits (cherry and strawberry); wet stones mineral aspect; tightened-up over 2.5 hrs. on Day 1. On Day 3, the brett had intensified, presenting a very medicinal band-aid overtone to the Nose.
BODY: dark garnet color of medium depth; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: medium-light to medium concentration of fruit flavor; red-fruited, with some leather (it's brett); no tannins; medium acidity; Drink Now and over the near term. Day 3: medicinal note is strong -- canker sore medicine I remember from my kid days -- and Band-aid brett. Ultimately marking this as Flawed, but my Day 1 score is below:
50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89
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12/22/2022 - bonedoc wrote:
Bright berries, briary fruit, maybe a hint of brett.
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12/12/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasty earthy cherry, forest floor, and Brett notes on the nose and palate with moderate long savory finish.
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8/2/2022 - BigTex22 wrote:
Better than the last bottle but nothing to write “Home” about. Get it? ;)
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7/10/2022 - stephenv wrote: flawed
Pretty sure this was flawed
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7/2/2022 - Mouthpiece wrote:
Drink or hold per vineyard
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6/22/2022 - silton Likes this wine: 94 Points
When this was first opened I wondered if it might have some Brett, but that influence faded into a balanced, gentle earthiness of tertiary complexity. Slightly more fruit expression than the 2010 or 2012 Home drunk at the same age. Harmonious middleweight to drink or hold.
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6/10/2022 - BigTex22 wrote: flawed
This wine was shot, stewed and potentially corked.
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12/27/2021 - Maphill01 wrote:
PNP. Followed over several hours. Red fruited, more on the earthy, savory side. Elegant and well balanced, but subdued for me tonight. This wine demanded my attention to appreciate the nuances.
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10/28/2021 - B Paul wrote:
Cherry, spice and earthy notes. Without going on too much, I’ll say this is one of the better Rhys wines I’ve had. In a great spot right now.
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9/20/2021 - mreinhard74@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a ton of tannins. Fruits on the nose give way to cigar box and pencil shavings with an acid spine. Could age another decade I suspect.
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1/15/2021 - BigTex22 wrote: 88 Points
With all the recent glowing reviews, I had high expectations for this bottle. I found the nose promising with cherry perfume scents. But I found the wine a bit too savory with high tannins and drying fruit. Felt out of balance and past its prime. I have two more bottles in storage, so will check back in a year or two.
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1/10/2021 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I've been buying Rhys since and '08? vintage, and yet to have been "wowed". Don't get me wrong, the wines are very well made, but I have yet to have had a profound experience. This was different. Show stopper from the initial pour--but in an elegant subtle way that creeps up on you. Beautiful red cherry fruit, but clean and pure. Fine tannins and acidity, with deft spice notes that add complexity. Lengthy finish, some fruit and a hint of wet earth. Excellent pinot, seems to still be on the upswing but enjoyable now.
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10/22/2020 - WineGold wrote: 94 Points
Earthy, balanced, medium-to-full bodied. Red fruit leads the way on the nose with some forest floor and crushed rock. Flavors of strawberries, pepper and fine tannin. In perfect balance. Going strong. Not even close to losing anything due to age. Plenty of years left here. This just tells me I need to work harder to hold back some of my younger Rhys bottles for aging. This is very difficult to do since they drink so well young. And old.
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7/29/2020 - jlm wrote:
Gorgeous deep ruby color, but crystal clear. Bottle shows very fine sediment. The aromatics are distinctly earthy, like chalky stone dust, with dark berry fruits (blackberry, black raspberry) beneath. This is earthier than Alpine and Horseshoe typically show - though I admittedly have less experience with Home vineyard. The palate is rich but medium bodied, with the effortless weightlessness of very well integrated acidity. The finish is long and savory, with impressive focus, and some fine-grained tannins creep in around the edge. This was drinking exceptionally well now, but it will surely continue to develop for some years yet.
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9/3/2019 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 92 Points
5 Great Wines: Rhys, Chevillon, Dutraive, Biggio Hamina: This was the second wine of the night. The color was very dark but fairly transparent. I picked up pretty blackberry and dark forest berries. There were lovely blackberry cobbler/warm rocks/bakery aromas emanating from the glass. This was very fluid and juicy, and full in the mouth. This was very complex and interesting, and, I think, the best Home I have had!
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6/30/2019 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Not at all mature, but drinking quite well now, the 2013 Home is showing plenty of red fruit, along with a touch of spice and a loamy undertone. It’s persistent and quite mouthfilling, but not at all heavy. If I had more I would wait 2-4 more years prior to opening another. It still has some finishing structure that will mellow out with additional time. Lovely wine with a bright future.
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2/26/2019 - EMark Likes this wine:
Interesting herbal/spicy nose--not fruity, at all. There is red fruit on the tip of the tongue--tart and refreshing, not cloying, at all. Acid is very noticeable--in the tartness of the fruit and the spritziness on the edges of the tongue. Medium-boded, Some retro-nasal earthiness. Mosty tartness, again, in the aftertaste,
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2/7/2019 - DickMull Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour, but still very tightly wound in both nose and palate. There is a decided minerality to this wine, in nose, palate, and structure, which I think bodes well for further ageing. Rose petal, dark red fruit, and herbal aromas are followed by light smoke, tar, and black cherry flavors. It has a nice long finish. A wonderful wine, and I'll look forward to retasting in a few years!
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1/12/2019 - blaine Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is amazing in a curious way. Cellared since delivery from Rhys. Effusive nose, the nose baffles me. Best I can compare the nose to is old school napa Cab...am I crazy?? Big dose of oak on nose, bit of sandlewood(?). Bracing acidity on the palate, mellows with time after opening. Sour cherries and just the right amount of steminess. Love this wine, very unique Pinot. It’s just the cab comments are curious given 13% abv. Would be very interesting double blind...
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6/3/2018 - bruce61 wrote: flawed
Corked!
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1/25/2018 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 90 Points
13% abv. Burgundy red, expressive aromas. Cranberry, tart cherry, black tea with a saline, herbal overtone. Noticeable tannic structure, this wine, while enjoyable now, will improve with several more years in the cellar.
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1/12/2018 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
13% abv. Medium burgundy red, expressive aromas. Raspberry, pomegranate, mint and lilacs dominate a rich, long and focused palate impression. This appears to have the structure for extended improvement.
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1/9/2018 - rmh66 wrote: 90 Points
Young. Gains focus with an hour of air. Pop and pour and followed for a day. Red fruit (cranberry, red cherry), earth, some herbs, and a little plum on the nose. Cranberry, cherry, earth, and some richness from the oak on the palate. Bright acidity, fine but present tannins, medium finish. Lots of complex elements come out on the finish. There’s also a nice richness to this wine, despite the reasonably low alcohol. This needs at least another year or two, but the quality is quite obvious.
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10/9/2017 - t_moderne wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Initially tasted wth food (fettucine with a tomato sauce, in case you were wondering). Then enjoyed without food. Followed for about 4 hours.
Ruby color. Clear.
Nose shows spice and forest floor. Sme pine sap notes.
At first, this has a bright cranberry snap to it. With time, the fruit profile takes on weight. Shows some cherry notes and a darker fruit profile. There is a good core of pepper and brow spices with a bowl of mixed berries and dark fruit.
Good acidity.
Delicious.
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6/26/2017 - scorrea Likes this wine: 92 Points
Transparent ruby red. Beautiful taste of red cherries and some spice. A hint of black fruit. Medium acidity and soft tannins.
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11/26/2016 - IamNotDrinkingAny#@!%Merlot wrote: 88 Points
Disappointed.... for a Rhys Home Vineyard, expected much more. Flavors were a bit loose, acid profile seemed off, not as razor sharp on structure as usually is the case. Will drink my other bottle in a year and see how it compares.
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6/10/2016 - SkeBum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking down the cellar before I move. Drank this wine with pizza... I know, I know. Anyway, a lot of the flavors of this wine have blended together. This is top of the line California Pinot. Nose is good, palate is good. These guys are on killing it.
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1/17/2016 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points
A magnificent Pinot that provides depth with elegance. Light red in color, light in body, welcoming nose of rose petals and spice. Tastes of sour cherry, raspberry, and gravel, with a lingering finish. 13% alcohol. This is not quite as amazing as their Horseshoe or Alpine pinots, but there is no doubt - at least for me - that Rhys belongs among the best American producers of Pinot today.
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1/1/2016 - SkeBum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened this by mistake thought it was the different vineyard, oh well. This wine is lovely, very nice balance with a nice long finish. Could use some more time in the cellar as I think it will blend all the flavors to a better wine with some time.
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11/21/2015 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 92 Points
This might be the most structured Home released to date, but it's not closed. It is however very busy with a jumble of things going on right away - a streak of green stemminess, bright, zingy red fruit, a dash of sophisticated oak spice. Sometimes the Rhys wines on release show a lot of sweet primary fruit that needs some airing to mellow out, but that's not the case with this one, the fruit is already fairly restrained right out of the gate. it *still* moves to the background though, and it doesn't take time before the wine is barely showing any fruit at all, just a blue/black complexion and an intense sensation of crushed stones, which combined with the powerful tannin make the texture of this thing very palpably grainy. It stays very drinkable though, never drying on the palate. Not as elegant as some vintages of Home have been, but the complexity is here.
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