PNP, served blind in a flight of whites. Medium yellow. Clean nose, some sulphur and flint to complement the citrus notes. Ripe, rich and mouth filling with a juicy/lively palate and decent acid and lift. This was hard to pick out as a chardonnay, I guessed white burgundy from a richer vintage like 15 or 16. Well done Rhys.
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-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 2.5 hrs --
NOSE: ripe, with soft oak in the background; fruit comes across as a mix of honeydew melon, papaya, and pineapple.
BODY: medium-rich pale yellow color; medium to medium-full bodied.
TASTE: medium+ acidity, with ripe fruit (pineapple leading the way); not overblown/blowsy; plenty of underlying mineral; alc. is well-hidden. I enjoyed this, and feel it's best to Drink Now and over the near term.
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Much better showing than the 16 last year. 15 just better year. Lively energy. Sappy sweetness with a wiry acid streak. Refreshing in that way. Green apple. Long finish. Lovely balance with some salinity. A Chablis ringer all day. Good wine.
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This is quite beautiful and fresh at 9 years old. Lemon, sea spray, slate, nuttiness, and sharp cheese. Medium bodied, tremendous acidity, and a decent finish. Will go another 10 years at least. Bravo.
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From double magnum bottle acquired on release. Light to medium green tinged yellow color. Definite reduction here with noticeable SO2 but it dissipates with aggressive swirling. White peach, yellow apple, white florals and tart lemon/lime follow in successive layers. Great texture, chewy mouthfeel. Bright acidity. Long finish with a slightly herbal element. The WOTN for me, this was great with several dishes/appetizers brought by family members. Particularly for with a goat cheese, olive, basil and sundried tomato “dip” with my homemade baguettes.
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Richness from the vintage, but it is counterbalanced by crisp acidity, orange pith bitterness, white flowers and stone. Very very good. Down to my last two bottles, alas.
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Medium hay in color, some light crushed fruit on the nose, this has wonderful intensity and flavor, excellent acidity, nice saline, touch of lime pith, with the salinity flowing through the lengthy finish. Tasty wine.
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Pale yellow. Subtle aromas of citrus, pear, lychee, rainwater, a hint of turmeric, a light floral note. Limpid fruit on the palate with a tocuh of salinity, silky texture, medium plus acids, a sweet squeeze of grapefruit rind at the back, low alcohol (12.6%), very long finish. Rich complexity in a simple story.
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Tastes roughly like an oaked lower-end grand cru or high-end premier cru Chablis. I liked this very slightly more than the non-vineyard-designated Anderson Valley bottling (which I also rated 92).
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This is really, really good. I enjoy the new oak, but I wish I could try an old oak version. I am sensitive to oak, so for me this wine doesn’t have a “whisper of oak”; rather, oak is the dominant aroma. I learned from my wife that others are less sensitive.
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Pale yellow. Aromas of lemon and rocks and white flowers with a hint of cream and a whisper of oak. Dense concentrated crystalline fruit on the palate with ringing acids, salty underpinnings, medium body, long finish with a ripe yellow fig back note. Low alcohol (12.6%). An utterly lovely crisp and delicious wine.
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Pretty consistent with previous notes. This feels like a Chablis with a Californian twist. Great acidity with seashells, minerals, and green apple notes and just a hint of that riper CA fruit. Lovely!
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BODY: vibrant, pale yellow color; medium to medium-full bodied.
TASTE: moderately rich; little bit of oak; medium+ to high acidity; 12.6% alc. not noticeable; medium-light mineral note on the finish; drinking very nicely now, and one of the best Bearwallow Chards I've had.
PnP. Starts with lemon, green apple, saline, minerals, floral and hint of vanilla. On the palate: lemon, green apple, honeysuckle , minerality, floral and a drop of vanilla. Well balanced with a smooth finish. Last bottle, suspect it will hold/improve a years to come.
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White flowers and white peach on the nose. Subtle and elegant. The palate is lighter and doesn't seem to have the fruit density of the SC Mtns bottlings. There's bright acidity and grip though. I liked this well enough but am still not really convinced that Bearwallow produces Chardonnay as interesting as Horseshoe and Alpine. But at the same time, this is still quite young and could well become more interesting with a little more bottle age.
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Really interesting wine. The nose kind of jumped out of the glass, with notable scents of minerals, lime, lemongrass, and unripe mango. The front of the palate was much less acidic than expected, with a roundish texture and balanced acidity, along with flavors of tropical fruit, chalk, flint, and an almost funky earthiness. It did mellow out a bit after some time in the glass. I have one more bottle and will wait a couple of years before I open it to see how much further it evolves. Loved it!
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Similar to the bottle I wrote up in May 2020, as it has good core of lemon oil and citrus. Green apple, lemon, orange flesh and a touch glossy. Drinking great at this stage.
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PnP. Showing well. Aromas of lemon, green apple, saline, minerals, floral and hint of vanilla. On the palate: lemon, green apple, honeysuckle , minerality, floral and a drop of vanilla. Good acidity with a smooth finish.
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A bit curious, but very good. A mix of medium, firm body, with delicate and filigreed flavors. Delicate yet precise flavors of green apples, citrus oil, candied flowers, green herbs (a bit unusual in chardonnay, but present here), with a hint of vanilla on the finish, all of which linger long in the mouth despite the lack of upfront boldness. Easy to enjoy, but worthy of savoring contemplation. It might get lost with strongly-flavored foods.
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First bottle of a mixed case of Rhys Chardonnay. I have been drinking their Pinots and enjoying them. PnP. Color is medium straw. On the nose: lemon drops, saline / mineral notes, white flowers and hint of vanilla. On the palate: Tart lemon, orange zest, green apple, honeysuckle , nice acidity and salinity on the finish. Good length and mouthfeel. Elegant wine / very French in style (a good thing), The alcohol only 12.6 which is excellent in my book.
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sb from 375 Light yellow gold. Bright tart apple flavors with a hint of banana Restrained but flavorful, I thought old world Rich, really quite nice and likely better with more time.
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Needed 3+ hours to open and put on some weight. Lots of lemon rind and baked green apple on nose and palate with hints of toasted oak and baking spice. Palate also revealed wonderful flinty mineral and growing depth over time. Very balanced. Could have a longer life with a bit more acidity. Keep chilled. Great with roast chicken. Wish I had more.
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Excellent. Popped and poured, consumed over 3 nights. refrigerator temp to start. Reminds me of a very good Chablis, but with some hints of oak. Maybe a light Meursault. Lemon citrus and maybe green apple nose. Austere palate at first, but then lots of mineral and pure fruit. Seems to evaporate on the tongue - coming across as painfully dry... Certainly improves with breathing and a little warming. Great balance and long finish. Drink or hold.
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A little muted after opening with green apple and lemon, tight acidity and medium finish. On day two it was much brighter with lemon cheesecake, honeydew and a little brioche with a much longer finish.
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On the nose, rainwater, lemon peel, tangerine, a nice floral hint. Vibrant crisp fruit on the palate with excellent cut and focus, a lovely lingering note of bitter rind.
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Pop and pour and tasted at cellar temperature and then slightly chilled as the bottle sat on some ice in a terra cotta tub. Light golden yellow color. Nose offers green apple, some unripe pear and hint of oak. Wonderful bright green apple and kiwi, with a slight note of pear and flint. Long length on the finish. Bright acidity. Delicious.
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One off ($59.99) from the winery 3 years ago with 5 pinots. Opened with a small taste, then about 45 minutes of air. Fairly muted nose of green apples and Meyer lemon, and on the palate, joined by light flowers, river rocks and a saline note. White gold, medium bodied, light legs. Medium on intensity, persistence and complexity. Moderate acidity, no heat. I tasted this wine at the Rhys pickup party 3 years ago (per my profile note, I don't write TNs in those situations), and it struck me as the closest CA wine I'd tasted to a White Burg. Revisiting this 3 years later, it now seems more Chablis-like, with a leaner, racier profile than the Cortons, Meursaults and Montrachets of this world, although on night 3, as this warmed up a bit, some of the creamier, chalkier notes I remembered returned. Super food friendly with fish kebabs, and with our ridiculously warm October, about as refreshing as a wine can get. Rhys seems to be the ying to Aubert's yang (or the thesis to the antithesis), and while I like Rhys's chards more than its pinots (and admire the craft tremendously in both), you, or at least I, definitely lose some of the deliciousness factor of the Auberts in exchange for not having to deal with what my CT friend csimm has called their sometime blowsiness. And while Aubert (and perhaps more so, its modern cab equivalents) have been criticized, sometimes rightly, IMO, for pandering to the Parkers of the world, perhaps we can say the same for Rhys with the Eric Asimovs? Good acidity and low alcohol may give this wine a bit more upside over the next few years, and it certainly will at least hold where it is. All said, it's quite lovely, but with the luck I've been having with the Ram's Gates and the Dutton Goldfields at lower price points, more likely to be an occasional choice than a go to for my wine spend. 92-93
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Just beautiful, delicate aromatics at first blush; wet stone and saline minerality, lemon curd, white florals, and just a shaving of almond skin. So, so energetic; the texture on the palate is beguiling, with piercing citrusy acidity but somehow maintaining an attractive oily texture and breadth/weight that belies the freshness and low ABV%. With a little bit of air and warming, there's a lovely light crème brûlée note on that comes through. A stony, perfumed, lightly woodspiced finish. This is seriously, seriously good and I think the acidity will carry it for many years to come.
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I like Rhys chardonnays because they have great power without tasting too tropical or creamy. This wine has particularly powerful flavors of lemon, yellow flowers, green apple, and nutmeg.
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Rhys' 2015 Bearwallow has gained some power since my last bottle, retaining a bouquet of lemon oil, pear, white flower, and spice. Intense, almost piercing, citrus oil on the palate and finish. Quite good today.
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Tasted blind. Popcorn, slightly reductive/flinty notes, apples, a hint of almonds and a little oak on the nose. Nice acidity with lemon and more apples and popcorn flavors on the palate. Long finish. Really great CA Chardonnay. The majority of tasters guessed Burgundy.
Lovely chard, balanced and approachable. Bright medium golden yellow color. Slightly reduced nose initially, then full of pear, peach, citrus rind and saline notes. Palate is bright and explosive with plenty of acidity and depth of flavor. Citrus, stone fruit, minerals and orchard fruit dance on your palate through a long luxurious finish, best bottle of this yet.
Saline lemon nose, exuberant deep fruit on the palate with vibrant acids, holding the balance through to the long finish. What a difference from the restrained 2014 we tasted last night.
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This was a really nice chard. Lean and racy with a good acid backbone. I really enjoy the Rhys style as it has stuffing and balance. Too many chards just go lean and say they are like Burgundy-not Rhys!
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Good bottle. Some vanilla from the wood with a medium weight of pear, lemon oil. Good piercing finish of bright lemon curd note with lime and flint. Aging well.
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Crystal clear straw color. Stark nose suggesting granny smith apples. VERY lean under the palate. Quite tart with the slightest suggestions of apple or stone fruit. Acidity makes for a very refreshing quaff. Good wine for summer sipping.
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From 500mL. Pours a light yellow-gold with a floral, lanolin nose accented by pineapple and white peach. Clean, with well-integrated and barely noticeable oak, with lemon curd and quince flavors, and a lingering dry finish. I am generally not much of a chardonnay fan, especially from the New World, but this is well made, just not distinctive.
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Fruit fading a bit, focusing ones attention on the reduction and oak influence. Not as good as the '16 Horseshoe bottling which shows much less flintiness (reduction) and better balance between oak and fruit.
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Notes from memory on the following day, though “oldwines’” review from yesterday is a splendid representation of my experience, too. The only thing I could add would be that it really benefitted from a long decant and it was still on the way up when the bottle was finished, some 6 hours after opening. I don’t expect to open my remaining (1.5L) before 2022. 5+12+17+9= 93
Pale lemon yellow color. Nose is lightly floral with creamy stone and orchard fruit and some flintiness. Palate has a nice dense and viscous texture and highlights some cream, ripe pear, white peach and a tart lemony and saline finish. Very nicely balanced and easy to drink.
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This is coming into focus now. Bright intense lemon peel with some orchard fruit in the background. Taut, with depth, and starting to drink well. No hurry
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Good example of how big ripe California fruit should be handled. Subtle reductive notes on the nose and palate. Not a bit of residual sugar. Well balanced. Great acidity (possibly added) and a long fruity finish. Tempts a Francophile to come home.
Pale gold in the glass with a nose that bright and fresh, shy notes of green apple, honeysuckle, and a bit of oak.
On the palate the wine has a round mouthfeel and shows tropical notes with apple, pineapple, honey, and (again) a bit of oak. The acidity is on the mild side though the finish is long. Moderate complexity but very refreshing and enjoyable.
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Starts with a bit of flinty matchstick, then rich, vibrant fruit, fairly lush but not in an overripe manner, just taking what the warmer vintage gives. Rich and delicious, with decent balancing acidity, hint of umami, very tasty. Not sure how this will age, I’d consider drinking on the earlier side.
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This is a delicious rendition of California Chardonnay, offering richness, without weight or excessive oak or "butteriness". Bright and citrusy flavors with some lemon peel, a nice touch of oak, good acidity and a really nice extended finish. Delicious. Wish I had more. Drinking well now, but can hold, and possibly improve for another year or two.
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Complex aromas of lemon, limestone, honeysuckle, and dry grassland. Dense core of fruit on the palate with great precision, harmonious acid modulation, finely calibrated acid finish.
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Beautiful Burgundian style Chardonnay from Rhys. The nose is exquisite with lemon, white flowers and vanilla. Nice stone fruit on the pallet, and a mouth watering balance of acidity with just a kiss of oak. Drinking beautifully now, but I am in no rush to open my remaining bottles either as the complexity should improve further with additional bottle age.
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Rhys Tasting (Knightsbridge - Northbrook IL): Tasting, brief note. Tart apple and lemon with lots of structure, which gives this an off balance character today, but I like the long and expanding finish, which gives me reason for optimism.
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12.6%. Pale straw yellow. Not much going on scentwise, maybe some muted lemon rind. In the mouth, maybe pineapple, and as it warms up some vanilla and honeydew melon. Some salinity on the finish. When paired with cheese (Comte, Tomme de Savoie, Gruyere) it shows better, the salty savoury flavours of the cheeses allowing the wine to appear more rounded, but then many cheeses do that for lots of other wines; otherwise, rather nondescript. I think I’ll let my other bottle rest a few more years; if no improvement by then can always use for cooking.
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I should do some research on where the drinking range comes from on this site. Hopefully the winery! If 2035 is a good guess I shouldn't be drinking this now. Had my first bottle four months back and this has improved big time. Just the right amount of acid for me along with some dry mango and some nutty tones on the long finish. I have four more bottles and hope to spread them out (won't make 2035 for sure). This improved quite a bit by night three so I would either decant or open and let sit.
Annoying reductive notes (I'm overly sensitive) seem somewhat diminished since I last cracked open a bottle of this. Great fruit front and center. Citrus notes and bracing acidity linger on the palate and finish. Tasted blind, I would have guessed Burgundy. Glad to see that California can make a wine like this. Begs for one more sip.
I'm beginning to appreciate the "matchstick quality" this wine exhibits. Lemony chardonnay fruit fights for dominance, and pretty much succeeds. Tasted blind, I would have guessed Puligny.I like this style. Very un California like.
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Not sure what to make of this bottle. Had my first bottle of Rhys' Horseshoe last fall and it was outstanding. This bottle is not flawed but is lacking or maybe lackluster is a better word for a wine in this price range. Soft, low acidity, low mineral. Drinking range out to 2035 so hope it just needs time but the reviews say otherwise. Partial retraction on night three. The remaining glass was much improved. Some acidity and maybe even a little mineral on the finish.
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Green apple, citrus, chamomile, a touch of vanilla on the nose. Bright acidity, yet with creamy texture and flavors of oranges, lemon peel, and chalk on the palate. Nice finish.
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Been 18 months since I had one of these.......opened this last night and enjoyed a few glasses with my wife. Retasting tonight before dinner with a good stem and perfect serving temp. I do sense a little bit of oak since the last bottle, as it adds a some creaminess to the core of the wine. Then, the attack of the pear and lime come bursting through, followed by a citrusy acidity and then a rain water quality. The citrus impression really persists into the finish, alongside pippin apple, anise and slate. Damn, this is excellent and packed with energy. It reminds me some of what Wells was doing with Laureles Grade chard before he left Copain. This is beautiful, crisp and spirited with the way it's built. Should last a good while with the acidity and frame that is here and I have no guilt about drinking this now. Fantastic wine that is evolving nicely.
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This starts with very crisp acid and then over an hour or so the acid fades and this has a more oily texture. Really like this one. Long finish. Need to try and hold off to give more age just to see what time will do. Drinks great now though.
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The unctuous, rich side of 2015 Sonoma Chardonnay, kept balanced by the deft hand of Rhys, with spiced pear, lemon curd, and marzipan. Medium bodied, crisp acidity, quite vibrant on the palate despite the bigger profile.
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100% Chardonnay from 8 ac of south and east facing single estate vineyard in the “Deep End” of Anderson Valley at 400 ft with 6-24 in topsoil over deep fractured shale and vines planted in 2009. 12.6% Abv. Proprietor: Kevin Harvey
A(ccuracy)=2: Bright lime/lemon. Fresh, floral, with hint of reductive nuttiness. B(alance)=3: Exquisite components in harmony. C(omplexity)=2: Tropical citrus and nuts, fine lees, cream. D(epth)=2: Focused mouthfeel. Expressive length and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,2,2] = 9/10
Sophisticated youthfulness.
For story-telling label graphics, see: [https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/] [https://www.instagram.com/WineTally/]
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Bright golden straw. Deep, rich, with admirable persistence. Nicely balanced, beautiful acidity. Quite complex and harmonious. Extremely enjoyable over three nights.
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Noticeably lighter than the alpine & horseshoe bottlings - and yet still packs a lot of depth. This is more on the citrus side of the spectrum but with ample minerals just below that high tone. Balanced as usual for Rhys, and deep/enough complexity to hold attention through the evening. Understand the “Chablis” references stylistically (eyeroll when I see this in CA notes as a marker of quality but bear with me, as there is a stylistic connection)
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Extremely good. Lemon, pineapple, minerals and flint on the nose, mixed with just a touch of vanilla. On the palate, bright, lovely lemony lift leads the way, and opens up to notes of tropical fruit and white flowers. This an an energetic, bright Chardonnay. Plenty of time here, will be excellent for years. Just lovely.
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This wine is tight as a drum. Palate is dominated by acidity and reductive notes (that, I admit to be overly sensitive to). Reminds me more of a young Puligny Montrachet. This is a very uncharacteristic California Chardonnay that will improve with bottle age. A couple of years will yield a few more points. Improves with food. No residual sugar. Nice finish. Addendum: Day2 The reductive notes have all but disappeared and the fruit is much more evident. Worth a couple more points today.
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Characteristic hints of turmeric and lemon on the nose. Bright acids on the palate with precise dose of fruit, medium acid finish. Not overly complex at this stage but quite delicious. 50 + 17 + 17 + 8 = 92.
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From 375 - damn this is good. Pure limestone, green apple and white pear on the nose. Beautiful balance of honey, green apple and minerals on the palate. Lucious attack with a crisp, mineral filled finish. Drinking great right now, but no hurry.
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Shifting aromas of lemon, nectarine, white flowers, cumin, toast, and beeswax on the subtle but evolving nose. Precise acid attack at the front with a weighty core of fruit on the mid-palate braced by a sparkling acid frame and moving into a lingering, vibrant finish. Beautiful things happening here, not yet in total harmony. 50 + 18 + 18 + 8 = 94.
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Rich, medium yellow color. Nose of tropical fruit, cream, lemon and wet stones with a hint of oak. Medium acidity and a chewy, rich mouth feel with bright lemon citrus, under-ripe pear and slightly buttery, creamy notes, along with pineapple and a medium to long, slightly smoky finish. Very nice and probably a little better with a few more years in the bottle
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Mid palate had a bit of bitterness to it that went away when the bottle was open for a couple of hours. Lots of acid here, but well offset by white fruit.
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A lovely crisp chardonnay with aromas of honey, beeswax, stone fruit, and limestone. Finely honed focus and grip on the palate with a deep fruit presence, good follow through at the back, and a lingering finish. Excellent with Pollo Loco takeout in the Holiday Inn Express in Bishop, CA after a visit to California wineries. 50 + 17 + 17 + 9.
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Rhys @ My Place--Part 3 (My House In The South OC): First wine of the day, many will be tasted as part of our Rhys backyard event. This is the only white open right now, no one is here yet so I figured I'd dive in. I tasted this last at the winery in July, and it was good then. This time, it's lights out. I opened this bottle 3 hours ago, just left the cork in it. It has a light chill. Expressively flinty aromatic, with green apple too. What is most notable this time is the saline component in the finish. Intense. Pear, green apple, maybe a kiss of caramel, and I say a kiss because of the past discussions about oak in the earlier Rhys Chards. From what is in this bottle, there ain't oak perceptible oak here. The finish is showcased by lemon peel, light grapefruit. This is an excellent, intense bottle of Chard that hits me just right.
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After tasting the 2015 AV Chard right before this (which is essentially declassed Bearwallow), I can see the quality difference in this wine. As opposed to the declassed AV Chard, this wine shows more intensity through a lemony/citrus acidity. Green apple/pippin with a long finish. And FWIW, I did not perceive any wood/oak tones here. I know some of us around these parts have debated oak/wood perceptions in the Rhys chards so I offer this final comment to add to that debate.
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5/8/2024 - Beezc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drink up
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5/5/2024 - Beezc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drink up. The best days have passed.
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4/15/2024 - llink wrote: 91 Points
PNP, served blind in a flight of whites. Medium yellow. Clean nose, some sulphur and flint to complement the citrus notes. Ripe, rich and mouth filling with a juicy/lively palate and decent acid and lift. This was hard to pick out as a chardonnay, I guessed white burgundy from a richer vintage like 15 or 16. Well done Rhys.
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4/11/2024 - grafstrb wrote:
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 2.5 hrs --
NOSE: ripe, with soft oak in the background; fruit comes across as a mix of honeydew melon, papaya, and pineapple.
BODY: medium-rich pale yellow color; medium to medium-full bodied.
TASTE: medium+ acidity, with ripe fruit (pineapple leading the way); not overblown/blowsy; plenty of underlying mineral; alc. is well-hidden. I enjoyed this, and feel it's best to Drink Now and over the near term.
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1/27/2024 - decaturwinedude wrote: 92 Points
Much better showing than the 16 last year. 15 just better year. Lively energy. Sappy sweetness with a wiry acid streak. Refreshing in that way. Green apple. Long finish. Lovely balance with some salinity. A Chablis ringer all day. Good wine.
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1/21/2024 - jgreco Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is quite beautiful and fresh at 9 years old. Lemon, sea spray, slate, nuttiness, and sharp cheese. Medium bodied, tremendous acidity, and a decent finish. Will go another 10 years at least. Bravo.
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12/30/2023 - oldwines Likes this wine: 95 Points
From double magnum bottle acquired on release. Light to medium green tinged yellow color. Definite reduction here with noticeable SO2 but it dissipates with aggressive swirling. White peach, yellow apple, white florals and tart lemon/lime follow in successive layers. Great texture, chewy mouthfeel. Bright acidity. Long finish with a slightly herbal element. The WOTN for me, this was great with several dishes/appetizers brought by family members. Particularly for with a goat cheese, olive, basil and sundried tomato “dip” with my homemade baguettes.
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10/4/2023 - acidqueen wrote: 92 Points
Richness from the vintage, but it is counterbalanced by crisp acidity, orange pith bitterness, white flowers and stone. Very very good. Down to my last two bottles, alas.
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9/27/2023 - alanr wrote: 92 Points
Medium hay in color, some light crushed fruit on the nose, this has wonderful intensity and flavor, excellent acidity, nice saline, touch of lime pith, with the salinity flowing through the lengthy finish. Tasty wine.
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8/27/2023 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Classy. Pure lemon curd, maybe a bit of apple, and then that oak — it really turns the wine into something special.
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6/19/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pale yellow. Subtle aromas of citrus, pear, lychee, rainwater, a hint of turmeric, a light floral note. Limpid fruit on the palate with a tocuh of salinity, silky texture, medium plus acids, a sweet squeeze of grapefruit rind at the back, low alcohol (12.6%), very long finish. Rich complexity in a simple story.
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11/8/2022 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tastes roughly like an oaked lower-end grand cru or high-end premier cru Chablis. I liked this very slightly more than the non-vineyard-designated Anderson Valley bottling (which I also rated 92).
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8/3/2022 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is really, really good. I enjoy the new oak, but I wish I could try an old oak version. I am sensitive to oak, so for me this wine doesn’t have a “whisper of oak”; rather, oak is the dominant aroma. I learned from my wife that others are less sensitive.
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7/22/2022 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pale yellow. Aromas of lemon and rocks and white flowers with a hint of cream and a whisper of oak. Dense concentrated crystalline fruit on the palate with ringing acids, salty underpinnings, medium body, long finish with a ripe yellow fig back note. Low alcohol (12.6%). An utterly lovely crisp and delicious wine.
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3/20/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pretty consistent with previous notes. This feels like a Chablis with a Californian twist. Great acidity with seashells, minerals, and green apple notes and just a hint of that riper CA fruit. Lovely!
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1/31/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasty lemon citrus, mineral, and a hint of oak which carries to a silky palate and moderate finish with refreshing acidity.
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1/27/2022 - grafstrb wrote: 92 Points
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 to 3 hours --
NOSE: bright, rich, lemony Chard.; perhaps a light pineapple note; pretty expressive.
BODY: vibrant, pale yellow color; medium to medium-full bodied.
TASTE: moderately rich; little bit of oak; medium+ to high acidity; 12.6% alc. not noticeable; medium-light mineral note on the finish; drinking very nicely now, and one of the best Bearwallow Chards I've had.
50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92
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1/26/2022 - gharter Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. Starts with lemon, green apple, saline, minerals, floral and hint of vanilla. On the palate: lemon, green apple, honeysuckle , minerality, floral and a drop of vanilla. Well balanced with a smooth finish. Last bottle, suspect it will hold/improve a years to come.
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11/12/2021 - jlm wrote:
White flowers and white peach on the nose. Subtle and elegant. The palate is lighter and doesn't seem to have the fruit density of the SC Mtns bottlings. There's bright acidity and grip though. I liked this well enough but am still not really convinced that Bearwallow produces Chardonnay as interesting as Horseshoe and Alpine. But at the same time, this is still quite young and could well become more interesting with a little more bottle age.
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9/22/2021 - DickMull Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really interesting wine. The nose kind of jumped out of the glass, with notable scents of minerals, lime, lemongrass, and unripe mango. The front of the palate was much less acidic than expected, with a roundish texture and balanced acidity, along with flavors of tropical fruit, chalk, flint, and an almost funky earthiness. It did mellow out a bit after some time in the glass. I have one more bottle and will wait a couple of years before I open it to see how much further it evolves. Loved it!
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9/22/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Similar to the bottle I wrote up in May 2020, as it has good core of lemon oil and citrus. Green apple, lemon, orange flesh and a touch glossy. Drinking great at this stage.
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9/22/2021 - brigcampbell wrote:
Blind: Thought this was Cali Chard from Santa Cruz.
Flint on the nose, ripe fruit but strong acid. Really really nice wine and should age. Wouldn't mind have a cellar full of this stuff.
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8/31/2021 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Showing well. Aromas of lemon, green apple, saline, minerals, floral and hint of vanilla. On the palate: lemon, green apple, honeysuckle , minerality, floral and a drop of vanilla. Good acidity with a smooth finish.
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8/20/2021 - ChrisR Likes this wine:
A bit curious, but very good. A mix of medium, firm body, with delicate and filigreed flavors. Delicate yet precise flavors of green apples, citrus oil, candied flowers, green herbs (a bit unusual in chardonnay, but present here), with a hint of vanilla on the finish, all of which linger long in the mouth despite the lack of upfront boldness. Easy to enjoy, but worthy of savoring contemplation. It might get lost with strongly-flavored foods.
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5/13/2021 - Brian of Mull Likes this wine: 93 Points
First bottle of a mixed case of Rhys Chardonnay. I have been drinking their Pinots and enjoying them. PnP. Color is medium straw. On the nose: lemon drops, saline / mineral notes, white flowers and hint of vanilla. On the palate: Tart lemon, orange zest, green apple, honeysuckle , nice acidity and salinity on the finish. Good length and mouthfeel. Elegant wine / very French in style (a good thing), The alcohol only 12.6 which is excellent in my book.
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5/5/2021 - cos65 Likes this wine:
sb from 375
Light yellow gold.
Bright tart apple flavors with a hint of banana
Restrained but flavorful,
I thought old world
Rich, really quite nice and likely better with more time.
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4/4/2021 - grub94 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Needed 3+ hours to open and put on some weight. Lots of lemon rind and baked green apple on nose and palate with hints of toasted oak and baking spice. Palate also revealed wonderful flinty mineral and growing depth over time. Very balanced. Could have a longer life with a bit more acidity. Keep chilled. Great with roast chicken. Wish I had more.
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2/21/2021 - stevenc.rees@gmail.com Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent. Popped and poured, consumed over 3 nights. refrigerator temp to start. Reminds me of a very good Chablis, but with some hints of oak. Maybe a light Meursault. Lemon citrus and maybe green apple nose. Austere palate at first, but then lots of mineral and pure fruit. Seems to evaporate on the tongue - coming across as painfully dry... Certainly improves with breathing and a little warming. Great balance and long finish. Drink or hold.
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12/19/2020 - azscot wrote: 91 Points
A little muted after opening with green apple and lemon, tight acidity and medium finish. On day two it was much brighter with lemon cheesecake, honeydew and a little brioche with a much longer finish.
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11/23/2020 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
On the nose, rainwater, lemon peel, tangerine, a nice floral hint. Vibrant crisp fruit on the palate with excellent cut and focus, a lovely lingering note of bitter rind.
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11/1/2020 - t_moderne wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour and tasted at cellar temperature and then slightly chilled as the bottle sat on some ice in a terra cotta tub.
Light golden yellow color.
Nose offers green apple, some unripe pear and hint of oak.
Wonderful bright green apple and kiwi, with a slight note of pear and flint. Long length on the finish.
Bright acidity.
Delicious.
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10/19/2020 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
One off ($59.99) from the winery 3 years ago with 5 pinots. Opened with a small taste, then about 45 minutes of air. Fairly muted nose of green apples and Meyer lemon, and on the palate, joined by light flowers, river rocks and a saline note. White gold, medium bodied, light legs. Medium on intensity, persistence and complexity. Moderate acidity, no heat. I tasted this wine at the Rhys pickup party 3 years ago (per my profile note, I don't write TNs in those situations), and it struck me as the closest CA wine I'd tasted to a White Burg. Revisiting this 3 years later, it now seems more Chablis-like, with a leaner, racier profile than the Cortons, Meursaults and Montrachets of this world, although on night 3, as this warmed up a bit, some of the creamier, chalkier notes I remembered returned. Super food friendly with fish kebabs, and with our ridiculously warm October, about as refreshing as a wine can get. Rhys seems to be the ying to Aubert's yang (or the thesis to the antithesis), and while I like Rhys's chards more than its pinots (and admire the craft tremendously in both), you, or at least I, definitely lose some of the deliciousness factor of the Auberts in exchange for not having to deal with what my CT friend csimm has called their sometime blowsiness. And while Aubert (and perhaps more so, its modern cab equivalents) have been criticized, sometimes rightly, IMO, for pandering to the Parkers of the world, perhaps we can say the same for Rhys with the Eric Asimovs? Good acidity and low alcohol may give this wine a bit more upside over the next few years, and it certainly will at least hold where it is. All said, it's quite lovely, but with the luck I've been having with the Ram's Gates and the Dutton Goldfields at lower price points, more likely to be an occasional choice than a go to for my wine spend. 92-93
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10/14/2020 - blackbrownbeige Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just beautiful, delicate aromatics at first blush; wet stone and saline minerality, lemon curd, white florals, and just a shaving of almond skin. So, so energetic; the texture on the palate is beguiling, with piercing citrusy acidity but somehow maintaining an attractive oily texture and breadth/weight that belies the freshness and low ABV%. With a little bit of air and warming, there's a lovely light crème brûlée note on that comes through. A stony, perfumed, lightly woodspiced finish. This is seriously, seriously good and I think the acidity will carry it for many years to come.
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10/7/2020 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
I like Rhys chardonnays because they have great power without tasting too tropical or creamy. This wine has particularly powerful flavors of lemon, yellow flowers, green apple, and nutmeg.
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10/4/2020 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
Rhys' 2015 Bearwallow has gained some power since my last bottle, retaining a bouquet of lemon oil, pear, white flower, and spice. Intense, almost piercing, citrus oil on the palate and finish. Quite good today.
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9/21/2020 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted blind. Popcorn, slightly reductive/flinty notes, apples, a hint of almonds and a little oak on the nose. Nice acidity with lemon and more apples and popcorn flavors on the palate. Long finish. Really great CA Chardonnay. The majority of tasters guessed Burgundy.
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8/26/2020 - wgcrites Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still so young. Tasted as though it was a two year old, lots of acidity.
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7/14/2020 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Ditto previous notes. Better young.
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6/12/2020 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely chard, balanced and approachable. Bright medium golden yellow color. Slightly reduced nose initially, then full of pear, peach, citrus rind and saline notes. Palate is bright and explosive with plenty of acidity and depth of flavor. Citrus, stone fruit, minerals and orchard fruit dance on your palate through a long luxurious finish, best bottle of this yet.
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6/1/2020 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Saline lemon nose, exuberant deep fruit on the palate with vibrant acids, holding the balance through to the long finish. What a difference from the restrained 2014 we tasted last night.
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5/22/2020 - Stumpy wrote: 92 Points
This was a really nice chard. Lean and racy with a good acid backbone. I really enjoy the Rhys style as it has stuffing and balance. Too many chards just go lean and say they are like Burgundy-not Rhys!
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5/17/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Good bottle. Some vanilla from the wood with a medium weight of pear, lemon oil. Good piercing finish of bright lemon curd note with lime and flint. Aging well.
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5/12/2020 - EMark Likes this wine:
Crystal clear straw color. Stark nose suggesting granny smith apples. VERY lean under the palate. Quite tart with the slightest suggestions of apple or stone fruit. Acidity makes for a very refreshing quaff. Good wine for summer sipping.
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5/11/2020 - GrapeScott wrote: 89 Points
From 500mL. Pours a light yellow-gold with a floral, lanolin nose accented by pineapple and white peach. Clean, with well-integrated and barely noticeable oak, with lemon curd and quince flavors, and a lingering dry finish. I am generally not much of a chardonnay fan, especially from the New World, but this is well made, just not distinctive.
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4/19/2020 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Fruit fading a bit, focusing ones attention on the reduction and oak influence. Not as good as the '16 Horseshoe bottling which shows much less flintiness (reduction) and better balance between oak and fruit.
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4/17/2020 - fingers Likes this wine: 93 Points
Notes from memory on the following day, though “oldwines’” review from yesterday is a splendid representation of my experience, too. The only thing I could add would be that it really benefitted from a long decant and it was still on the way up when the bottle was finished, some 6 hours after opening. I don’t expect to open my remaining (1.5L) before 2022.
5+12+17+9= 93
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4/16/2020 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pale lemon yellow color. Nose is lightly floral with creamy stone and orchard fruit and some flintiness. Palate has a nice dense and viscous texture and highlights some cream, ripe pear, white peach and a tart lemony and saline finish. Very nicely balanced and easy to drink.
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4/13/2020 - acidqueen wrote: 92 Points
This is coming into focus now. Bright intense lemon peel with some orchard fruit in the background. Taut, with depth, and starting to drink well. No hurry
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3/11/2020 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
Good example of how big ripe California fruit should be handled. Subtle reductive notes on the nose and palate. Not a bit of residual sugar. Well balanced. Great acidity (possibly added) and a long fruity finish. Tempts a Francophile to come home.
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2/22/2020 - Ortiz Brown Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pale gold in the glass with a nose that bright and fresh, shy notes of green apple, honeysuckle, and a bit of oak.
On the palate the wine has a round mouthfeel and shows tropical notes with apple, pineapple, honey, and (again) a bit of oak. The acidity is on the mild side though the finish is long. Moderate complexity but very refreshing and enjoyable.
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1/6/2020 - alanr wrote: 92 Points
Starts with a bit of flinty matchstick, then rich, vibrant fruit, fairly lush but not in an overripe manner, just taking what the warmer vintage gives. Rich and delicious, with decent balancing acidity, hint of umami, very tasty. Not sure how this will age, I’d consider drinking on the earlier side.
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12/16/2019 - ewsds Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a delicious rendition of California Chardonnay, offering richness, without weight or excessive oak or "butteriness". Bright and citrusy flavors with some lemon peel, a nice touch of oak, good acidity and a really nice extended finish. Delicious. Wish I had more. Drinking well now, but can hold, and possibly improve for another year or two.
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11/13/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Complex aromas of lemon, limestone, honeysuckle, and dry grassland. Dense core of fruit on the palate with great precision, harmonious acid modulation, finely calibrated acid finish.
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9/22/2019 - Ghoulardi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Rich, good acid, but a bit overly ripe for my tastes.
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9/20/2019 - pren wrote: 90 Points
尝LD。气味比Alesia好,口中更有特点,些许flint味道?
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8/21/2019 - Ryan3719 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful Burgundian style Chardonnay from Rhys. The nose is exquisite with lemon, white flowers and vanilla. Nice stone fruit on the pallet, and a mouth watering balance of acidity with just a kiss of oak. Drinking beautifully now, but I am in no rush to open my remaining bottles either as the complexity should improve further with additional bottle age.
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8/20/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Rhys Tasting (Knightsbridge - Northbrook IL): Tasting, brief note. Tart apple and lemon with lots of structure, which gives this an off balance character today, but I like the long and expanding finish, which gives me reason for optimism.
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8/12/2019 - Nico P. wrote:
12.6%. Pale straw yellow. Not much going on scentwise, maybe some muted lemon rind. In the mouth, maybe pineapple, and as it warms up some vanilla and honeydew melon. Some salinity on the finish. When paired with cheese (Comte, Tomme de Savoie, Gruyere) it shows better, the salty savoury flavours of the cheeses allowing the wine to appear more rounded, but then many cheeses do that for lots of other wines; otherwise, rather nondescript. I think I’ll let my other bottle rest a few more years; if no improvement by then can always use for cooking.
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8/11/2019 - Acohen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lots of asian pear and tropical notes with good crispness, acidity and balance
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8/1/2019 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I should do some research on where the drinking range comes from on this site. Hopefully the winery! If 2035 is a good guess I shouldn't be drinking this now. Had my first bottle four months back and this has improved big time. Just the right amount of acid for me along with some dry mango and some nutty tones on the long finish. I have four more bottles and hope to spread them out (won't make 2035 for sure). This improved quite a bit by night three so I would either decant or open and let sit.
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7/5/2019 - Mrbuzz wrote:
Slightly corked.
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6/18/2019 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted at a trade tasting in NYC. Lean and bright, with flinty citrus and a nice mineral and saline finish.
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6/17/2019 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
Annoying reductive notes (I'm overly sensitive) seem somewhat diminished since I last cracked open a bottle of this. Great fruit front and center. Citrus notes and bracing acidity linger on the palate and finish. Tasted blind, I would have guessed Burgundy. Glad to see that California can make a wine like this. Begs for one more sip.
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4/8/2019 - silton wrote: flawed
Corked.
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4/3/2019 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
I'm beginning to appreciate the "matchstick quality" this wine exhibits. Lemony chardonnay fruit fights for dominance, and pretty much succeeds. Tasted blind, I would have guessed Puligny.I like this style. Very un California like.
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3/27/2019 - spicy1 wrote: 89 Points
Not sure what to make of this bottle. Had my first bottle of Rhys' Horseshoe last fall and it was outstanding. This bottle is not flawed but is lacking or maybe lackluster is a better word for a wine in this price range. Soft, low acidity, low mineral. Drinking range out to 2035 so hope it just needs time but the reviews say otherwise. Partial retraction on night three. The remaining glass was much improved. Some acidity and maybe even a little mineral on the finish.
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3/24/2019 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Green apple, citrus, chamomile, a touch of vanilla on the nose. Bright acidity, yet with creamy texture and flavors of oranges, lemon peel, and chalk on the palate. Nice finish.
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3/14/2019 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Seven or so weeks later: We could not resist another, and it was just as lovely. Bright, driven, complex, with refreshing minerality and acidity.
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2/19/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Been 18 months since I had one of these.......opened this last night and enjoyed a few glasses with my wife. Retasting tonight before dinner with a good stem and perfect serving temp. I do sense a little bit of oak since the last bottle, as it adds a some creaminess to the core of the wine. Then, the attack of the pear and lime come bursting through, followed by a citrusy acidity and then a rain water quality. The citrus impression really persists into the finish, alongside pippin apple, anise and slate. Damn, this is excellent and packed with energy. It reminds me some of what Wells was doing with Laureles Grade chard before he left Copain. This is beautiful, crisp and spirited with the way it's built. Should last a good while with the acidity and frame that is here and I have no guilt about drinking this now. Fantastic wine that is evolving nicely.
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2/16/2019 - acidqueen wrote: flawed
Corked.
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2/15/2019 - Jbird73 wrote: 93 Points
This starts with very crisp acid and then over an hour or so the acid fades and this has a more oily texture. Really like this one. Long finish. Need to try and hold off to give more age just to see what time will do. Drinks great now though.
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2/10/2019 - grafstrb wrote:
-- double decanted approx. 90 minutes before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over approx. 90 minutes --
NOSE: tight; lemon and orange oils; cilantro.
BODY: medium-light bodied; pale yellow color
TASTE: medium richness; high acidity; ample mineral; hint of wet cardboard (possibly slightly corked).
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2/10/2019 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
The unctuous, rich side of 2015 Sonoma Chardonnay, kept balanced by the deft hand of Rhys, with spiced pear, lemon curd, and marzipan. Medium bodied, crisp acidity, quite vibrant on the palate despite the bigger profile.
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2/2/2019 - WineTally Likes this wine:
100% Chardonnay
from 8 ac of south and east facing single estate vineyard in the “Deep End” of Anderson Valley
at 400 ft with 6-24 in topsoil over deep fractured shale and vines planted in 2009.
12.6% Abv.
Proprietor: Kevin Harvey
A(ccuracy)=2: Bright lime/lemon. Fresh, floral, with hint of reductive nuttiness.
B(alance)=3: Exquisite components in harmony.
C(omplexity)=2: Tropical citrus and nuts, fine lees, cream.
D(epth)=2: Focused mouthfeel. Expressive length and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,2,2] = 9/10
Sophisticated youthfulness.
For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
[https://www.instagram.com/WineTally/]
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1/20/2019 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Bright golden straw. Deep, rich, with admirable persistence. Nicely balanced, beautiful acidity. Quite complex and harmonious. Extremely enjoyable over three nights.
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1/6/2019 - Jahull03 wrote:
Noticeably lighter than the alpine & horseshoe bottlings - and yet still packs a lot of depth. This is more on the citrus side of the spectrum but with ample minerals just below that high tone. Balanced as usual for Rhys, and deep/enough complexity to hold attention through the evening. Understand the “Chablis” references stylistically (eyeroll when I see this in CA notes as a marker of quality but bear with me, as there is a stylistic connection)
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12/30/2018 - acidqueen wrote: 90 Points
Rich, broad but with decent lift. Apple and pear flavors, but a bit too much oak right now for my taste. Will it get better? Not sure.
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11/26/2018 - WineGold wrote: 94 Points
Extremely good. Lemon, pineapple, minerals and flint on the nose, mixed with just a touch of vanilla. On the palate, bright, lovely lemony lift leads the way, and opens up to notes of tropical fruit and white flowers. This an an energetic, bright Chardonnay. Plenty of time here, will be excellent for years. Just lovely.
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11/3/2018 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
This wine is tight as a drum. Palate is dominated by acidity and reductive notes (that, I admit to be overly sensitive to). Reminds me more of a young Puligny Montrachet. This is a very uncharacteristic California Chardonnay that will improve with bottle age. A couple of years will yield a few more points. Improves with food. No residual sugar. Nice finish. Addendum: Day2 The reductive notes have all but disappeared and the fruit is much more evident. Worth a couple more points today.
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10/29/2018 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Characteristic hints of turmeric and lemon on the nose. Bright acids on the palate with precise dose of fruit, medium acid finish. Not overly complex at this stage but quite delicious. 50 + 17 + 17 + 8 = 92.
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9/12/2018 - jreis Likes this wine:
From 375 - damn this is good. Pure limestone, green apple and white pear on the nose. Beautiful balance of honey, green apple and minerals on the palate. Lucious attack with a crisp, mineral filled finish. Drinking great right now, but no hurry.
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8/2/2018 - Jahull03 wrote:
Seriously good - has some of the mineral & white pepper quality of Rhys’s Horseshoe Chardonnay, a tad lighter/fresher weight. Really like this.
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8/2/2018 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Shifting aromas of lemon, nectarine, white flowers, cumin, toast, and beeswax on the subtle but evolving nose. Precise acid attack at the front with a weighty core of fruit on the mid-palate braced by a sparkling acid frame and moving into a lingering, vibrant finish. Beautiful things happening here, not yet in total harmony. 50 + 18 + 18 + 8 = 94.
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5/7/2018 - alanr wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful medium richness, excellent acidity, in the perfect Chardonnay zone.
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4/12/2018 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, medium yellow color. Nose of tropical fruit, cream, lemon and wet stones with a hint of oak. Medium acidity and a chewy, rich mouth feel with bright lemon citrus, under-ripe pear and slightly buttery, creamy notes, along with pineapple and a medium to long, slightly smoky finish. Very nice and probably a little better with a few more years in the bottle
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2/11/2018 - bconly wrote:
Mid palate had a bit of bitterness to it that went away when the bottle was open for a couple of hours. Lots of acid here, but well offset by white fruit.
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11/29/2017 - Jbird73 wrote: 92 Points
Love this one too. Same as horseshoe in terms of enjoyment.
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11/28/2017 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
A lovely crisp chardonnay with aromas of honey, beeswax, stone fruit, and limestone. Finely honed focus and grip on the palate with a deep fruit presence, good follow through at the back, and a lingering finish. Excellent with Pollo Loco takeout in the Holiday Inn Express in Bishop, CA after a visit to California wineries. 50 + 17 + 17 + 9.
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10/1/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Rhys @ My Place--Part 3 (My House In The South OC): First wine of the day, many will be tasted as part of our Rhys backyard event. This is the only white open right now, no one is here yet so I figured I'd dive in. I tasted this last at the winery in July, and it was good then. This time, it's lights out. I opened this bottle 3 hours ago, just left the cork in it. It has a light chill. Expressively flinty aromatic, with green apple too. What is most notable this time is the saline component in the finish. Intense. Pear, green apple, maybe a kiss of caramel, and I say a kiss because of the past discussions about oak in the earlier Rhys Chards. From what is in this bottle, there ain't oak perceptible oak here. The finish is showcased by lemon peel, light grapefruit. This is an excellent, intense bottle of Chard that hits me just right.
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7/25/2017 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Bright, with white peach, melon rind, touch of caramel, hint of candied fruit, rocky-chalky, vibrant finish. At winery with Eric Prahl
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7/23/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
After tasting the 2015 AV Chard right before this (which is essentially declassed Bearwallow), I can see the quality difference in this wine. As opposed to the declassed AV Chard, this wine shows more intensity through a lemony/citrus acidity. Green apple/pippin with a long finish. And FWIW, I did not perceive any wood/oak tones here. I know some of us around these parts have debated oak/wood perceptions in the Rhys chards so I offer this final comment to add to that debate.
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