Patience is paying off. These are starting to blossom. No coaxing or wondering needed. This one showed a marked flinty character after a couple hours of air. Otherwise its a forwardly expressive now, showing fresh apples, citrus rind, nougat and hints of tropical fruits. Its really cut from its own cloth, not exactly showing like a more valley centered Chardonnay we are used to. But I wouldn't really call it Burgundian either. Quite good.
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Initially a deep gold color that quickly turns more of a honeyed hue. Aromas of butterscotch, lemon, and buttered popcorn. Palate has striking lemon/grapefruit tartness that pervades from start to finish. Grilled pineapple, mango, grapefruit, lemon, some toasted hazelnut notes show up in the palate over time. The finish is medium-long. This held steady for several hours over which it was consumed. Strong showing and worth the patience. Drink.
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Insane golden hue. Like others below I was concerned of the cork but a quci cheese cloth strain into a small decanter and we were good to go. Mango, lemon, a little goldenrod. Paired beatuifully with raw oysters and large shrimp ( not cocktail sauce though) . Drink for an epic white or hold altough I am not sure how much more aging is going to occur
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I was a little concerned about this one when I had trouble getting the cork out. Then when I saw the yellow color in the glass, I was more concerned. I need not have been worried. The wine was absolutely amazing and still has plenty of life ahead of it. The nose showed apple and pear fruit with hazelnut and butterscotch. The fruit on the palate was lush and followed by enough acidity to keep the wine refreshing. I wish that I had several more bottles of this wine. Absolutely stunning! My wife and sister loved it, as well.
Love this. As other reviewers in the last year have noted, this wine has a lot of life left. Holding up very well for days in the fridge. What a treat. Wish I had more!
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Dense and rich, with ample acidity to balance. Striking savory notes of sesame and miso in the nose. Last couple ounces sat in the fridge for a couple days and were still vibrant and intense.
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Medium gold. Very complex nose with notes of walnut skin, jasmine, chalky mineral, and yellow stone fruit. Wonderfully expressive. The palate is medium full and rich with good brightness and cut. The acidity well integrated but leaves a zing on the back end. The finish is long and flavorful but has a prominent note of grapefruit pith that's slightly bitter and a bit distracting. That aside, this was excellent and drinking in a great place. Bodes well for the development of more recent vintages. Although the alcohol is listed at 13.7%, so about a point higher than most vintages now. It would be interesting to learn what if any differences in vineyard management or winemaking are behind that shift.
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Was pleasantly surprised a couple of nights ago. Usual crisp acidity and lemony citrus with well defined finish. But best part was the evolution over the next couple nights....delightful roundness with filling out. Much more suited to my acid shy palate. Really enjoyed. Not over the hill by any standard.
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Needed a little air on opening but was reasonably ready to go. Maturing citrus and stonefruit, quite ripe and rich, with a classic old school Burgundian buttery edge and a slight stoniness in the background. Perhaps just lacking a little complexity but that didn’t decrease the enjoyment much ****+
Consumed over the course of a Wine Berserkers Zoom call with Kevin and Jeff
On first opening - beautiful nose, gorgeous mature fruit. Chalk, a hint of matchstick. The finish tails off a bit, not a lot going on Tightens up a bit with air, some nice citrus notes emerging 10 minutes in a honeyed note starts emerging and the finish is lengthening. really a lovely Burgundian Batardish nose but still a bit light on the palate at this point. 15 minutes - starting to fill out 25 minutes - chalk and a hint of grapefruit, really enjoying this 30 minues - okay, now it's gotten a lot bigger, mouthfilling flavors 45 minutes - much stonier, some plum emerging 60 minutes - With some roast pork shoulder the fruit becomes much sweeter
On day 2 all the flavors have integrated and smoothed out though some complexity has been lost. My guess is that good as it was I missed the best of it around the 2-3 hour mark.
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Poker night - Bordeaux single blind - 95 GPL, 01 Ausone, 11 The Lovers, 03 Margaux and etc.: Nice mature domestic Chardonnay nose, lemon curl, apple chips, creme brulee, a hint of oak and wet stone. Excellent concentration, nicely integrated palate, good acidity, strong presence of mineral and a long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with a hint of oak at the end. This is a nice mature, well balanced, domestic Chardonnay. I don’t find it Burgundian but very harmonious and enjoyable.
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Drinking beautifully! Wonderful nose with vibrant citrus, mineral, and a hint of vanilla which carries to a delectable palate and long finish with lively acidity.
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We had the '09 Leroy Bourgogne side-by-side with the '07 Rhys Alpine and the comparison was fun. Both were aging gracefully on a base of flinty acidity and light vanilla. The Leroy had a lighter fruit touch, though with both the fruit was bright, mainly orchard with a touch of citrus. The Leroy cleared the palate quickly while the Rhys left a lasting, evolving palate impression. Both complemented the acorn squash risotto topped with seared black cod, but with the Leroy clearing/separating flavors and the Rhys blending/enhancing them. Both seem near/at maturity with no signs of impending decline.
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Leesy toasted aroma of butterscotch, sea salt caramel, lemon cream, flinty minerality, apple pie held together with bracing acidity. Full bodied. Almost too much Krug-Like opulence in one bottle, but most beautiful! 4+14+18+8
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Medium-deep gold color. Aromas of lemon, hazelnut, and pineapple. Palate has quite a lot going on, ranging from marzipan/hazelnut to ripe mango, grilled pineapple, nutmeg, and pear. Finish is medium with acidic zip to keep you coming back to the glass. Has evolved from release and seems to have further positive evolution ahead. Drink or hold.
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Leo's Blind Tasting Group - March '16 edition (Gil's): Nice showing. Ripe citrus fruit accented by hazelnut, vanilla, and stony flavours, with other savoury and smoky notes developing with air. Good complexity, though a bit more creamy on the palate than I'd prefer.
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Just outstanding at this point. Incredibly rich, well-balanced. I'm trying to avoid the California/Burgundy comparison because they are different wines, but a very good Batard would not outshine it.
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ATL offline at Cooks and Soldiers. Light gold color. Intense nose of crisp fruit with smoked bacon, great balance, medium body, nice complex mix of minerally/Stoney fruit and smoky/earthy notes, this was a stunning match with the tuna. More accessible out of the gate than the 2005 Jadot Cordon-Charlemagne tasted with it, but as the Jadot warmed and got some air it caught up. Obviously two very different wines but each outstanding in their own right. Ultimately I was more impressed with the Rhys because it was a new experience for me while the Jadot was not. Outstanding.
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Tighter and less flamboyant than the 2005 Jadot Corton-Charlemagne tasted with it, but it more than holds its own. A little smokey bacon on the nose leads to great minerality and subtle complexity, it opened up quite a bit with air and would benefit from decanting Very impressive.
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Similar to other recent notes I see here, this is beginning to unfold into a stunning wine, with richness, depth and cut, all at once. If you have several, it's well worth checking in on one now. But it's easy to imagine that this will only continue to improve over the next several years and reveal even more of its complexity.
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Reminds me of a slightly more unwound version of the 2011 PYCM St Aubin 1er Cru I had earlier this year. Lemon curd, hazelnuts and a touch of butter, all cut with laser-like acidity. Wonderful pairing with top-notch Chinese takeout. A pleasure to drink tonight.
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Wonderful nose with citrus, mineral, and a hint of vanilla which carries to a delectable palate and finish with lively acidity. Drinking beautifully now!
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Showing some age with its pale golden color and slight hazelnut on the finish. Nose had restrained peach, pear and citrus fruit along with chalky mineral and hint of vanilla. Palate had elegant balance of medium fruit, mineral and fresh acidity; nothing poking out. The finish was cleansing, complex, and balanced and led into a nicely persisting aftertaste. Beautiful with pan seared grouper.
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Light gold color. Nose of lemon zest, green apple, merengue, and sharp minerality. Medium bodied on the palate with racy acidity through the middle and a long finish.
The cork fragmented pretty badly on opening this wine.
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Dinner with Friends: mineral, light vanilla, on the nose. light peach and pear mid, creamy and thick middle with a long refreshing finish. Touch of alcohol present.
this may have had a touch of TCA - but i am absolutely immune to it. and it did not seem to mar the wine too much since it was still very expressive.
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this was almost too sharp / astringent, and i am a big fan if extra acid and citrus chardonnay, didn't get enough minerals or fruit to hold up so it was a just miss, don't think this will come around, feel like the '06 and '08 (both of which i have enjoyed a lot) are better even if more rich (which isn't my favorite profile)
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OR and Cal Chards, Burgs, and Old Cal Cabs (GHT): Love this wine. It started a bit slow, but kept picking up steam. Reminds me of a Meursault and a good one at that. Light gold in color. The nose is deep with minerals, slight grapefruit and slight vanilla. Layered. The palate matches with an unwinding complexity. Good acidity. Demands food. Wonderful wine.
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I noticed the petrol component as well. Never experienced that outside of a mature German Riesling. Not dominant but present. Otherwise a very good chard as I would expect from Rhys. Mineral and green apple, nice acidity.
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I'm with petrnelson on this one in terms of petroly fumes and almost a penicillin like charateristic which did not add to the wine for any of us...I guess that's minerally but it never got to the point where I really liked what it was giving up. There is a bit left in the fridge that perhaps we can try before going to the airport
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Taken to Little Bird Bistro in Portland on vacation earlier in July, so no detailed notes, but this is probably my WOTY. Tons of minerality off the nose, and a palate with several acts that flow seamlessly together.
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Decanted at the Eatery: Off the bat tons of reduction/fumey petrol aromas that I like, but it was overpowering, completely hiding the fruit for a while. Later got lots of fresh ripe apple, subtle mixed baking spices, great vibrant acidity/citrus notes in a med. body. Very nice, but I'd love to know more about the reduction aspect in this and if this is common in this bottling. 91-92
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wow this was good, had had the 2006 and so bought a couple of these, somewhat like '07 in burgundy this had lots of acid grip, but was bigger than the burgs of 2007, not in 'cali big' style but loads of concentrated lemon and initially some slight sweetness, first sip almost tasted like great old chevalier demoiselles that was drinking like a youngster... super for cali chard, no noticeable oak frankly
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The wine looks Light gold colored. Aromas of Apple, Peach, and River Stone. Sweet Vanilla, and Apple blossom on the pallet along with some Stoneness The body is Light/Medium with a Silky texture and +-20 second finish.
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Really good wine. Don't drink much chardonnay anymore but this one is a winner. Lemon, minerals, a little smoke, medium body with good acidity. Vibrant. My discrete CT scale: 95-extraordinary; 90-very good; 85-good; 80-fair; 75-poor
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It's been 2.5 years since my last bottle, and this is quite similar to how I recall it tasting then, though perhaps with a bit more weight and depth. The color has darkened just a touch from night 1. There is really quite a bit going on on the nose here; lemon pith, flint/slate, and pine nuts all come to mind. I particularly like the keen sense of acidity juxtaposed against the creamy yellow fruits on the palate which, together, pull at the inside of the mouth making for a lengthy finish. This is a really classy effort that should continue to improve in bottle for a few more years. Very tasty stuff here...
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Have heard quite a bit about Rhys on the boards but it was my first time trying one. This wasn't your big in your face California Chardonnay but more elegant and nuanced. Kind of reminded me of the Williams Selyem Chardonnay's. Got a slight hint of oak but not hitting you over the head.
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Darker yellow with a big nose; baked apple full flavored, ample pit fruits with boatloads of acidity. Intense mouth. I thought New World immediately from the color and nose, but the acidity and complexity in the mouth was fantastic. I guessed Corton Charlemagne '05. But I don't think a CC is going to be that forward, dark, and ripe. I just couldn't explain the excellent acidity. 13.7% Probably my WOTN, 92-93.
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Decanted ~ 4 hours prior to serving. Served blind. Some sulfur in front of aromas of ripe fruit. Clean up front though a bit rough at the finish. The fruit has a darker quality that is hard to place. Tough placing it but I leaned towards Burg.
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This stuff is straight bonkers good. Day one- tight. strong lemon, slatey minerality, saline, with some pine nut, and a positively lip-smacking acid finish. Day two (just a cork in it, in fridge)- good just got great. Totally unwound, deep, almost unctuous. Starts with a hint of apple/pear fruit before quickly switching to strong lemon again, spicy, nutty, stony, but razor sharp. It is nice and rich and has added a ton of weight. Everything is so well delineated. Can't put it down. 94+ because I don't know how to score chard this good.
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a fantastic showing and everything i want in chardonnay. minerals, saline, lemon curd, intricate yet delicate acid structure. impossible to have too much of this.
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This is a lovely young chardonnay. At first the wine was lemon essence which came through strongly in the mouth. Wow did it explode after a few minutes opened! It became enchanting with smooth cool saline lemon and oyster shells, and slid effortlessly down with persistence and pleasure. Would it make sense if I said this wine has myriad subtle "fruit colors" swimming around the glass?
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An amazing meal (Rhys, SQN, KB, Margaux, Angelus, Ducru, Kalin): This wine is one of my favorite Cal Chards. While clearly of its place, it does have some "Burgundian" qualities in terms of being mineral driven and with a creamy yet not buttery or over powering texture. The nose has minerals and lemon with some lemon rind. On the palate, its more of a lemon chiffon with a nice streak of acidity. Very food friendly. While not the monster that the SQN's were, it had enough cut that I could go back to it afterwards and still not be overpowered. Delicious wine that is showing young still.
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Remember Kramer's perfume that makes you smell like you just came from the beach? This is the wine equivalent. The oceanic sandy character is so vivid that as soon as you take a sip you're no longer in the mood for whatever it was you were planning to have for dinner and instead feel almost compelled to head to the shore, steal a boat, and put together a clambake. Unfortunately that wasn't feasible but at least the wine delivers a beach in a glass. It's much fresher than the 2005 was recently and still has brightness and crunch, although perhaps not quite as nimble as it was a few years ago.
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Intense citrusy fruit, grapefruit in particular. We had it with the wrong type of food, sauteed fish and crab - it needed a sauce of some type. "Youngest" tasting chardonnay for its age that I've ever had. I'm betting it will be a lot more enjoyable in a few years. Not close to peak - for sure.
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White gold. Nose of apple core, pear, white flowers, stone. Pure, mineral-laden layers of grapefruit, apricot, granny apple on the palate. Modest acidity, slightly shortened finish. Could age and improve lots more.
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Gunpowder, smoky limestome and white pepper in the nose. Nice thick oily texture - lots of lemon and granite on the mid palate. Very precise cut and acidity. Beautiful wine, but still a little reticent at this point in its development, with the promise of even some more complexity to come.
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Agree with a note that this was one of the best Chards of the year (and ever) for me. Comparable in quality and pure pleasure to a 2005 Littorai Heintz we had recently. I think age will do well for the other bottle I have.
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All of the previous tasting notes apply. Lovely wine to drink but I may hold my other bottle till at least Thanksgiving just to see what a few more months in the cellar does.
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UP there with one of the best chards of the year. Light yellow, crystal clear color. Slight vanilla and oak, mostly well balanced citrus and lemon. The lemon is a nice contrast to the other fruit without being lemony. Bright acidity and balance brings this all together. Restrained in style. Not cloying or sweet. Just fabulous.
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Great wine. Very classy, very atypical for CA Chardonnay. No butterscotch, not high alcohol, not blowsy. This is a different style altogether. Lovely pale yellow color, and mineral and citrus laden palate that gives you the textural impression of fresh spring water. The fruit is fine and cool, and the length is admirable. It's a more elegant and complex version of the Varner Amphitheater Chards (no disrespect to varner, I love their wines). Brilliant wine, unfortunately, not easy to procure.
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much better than the 2002 lafite, which wasn't so shabby top notes of nose brought me back to a bottle of kistler circa 1995. one of the first great bottles i tried. greatness does that sometimes. brings back good memories. mineral and smoke. a bit coche-ey if i say so. palate is lemon ice and rubberband tight tension of acidity and glycerin. finish is a grower. palate is chablis.
a great wine with good friends and a celebration
perfect
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My lone bottle, and really sorry to see this go. Opened along with an '05 Drouhin Clos de Mouches Blanc, and there was some similarity. This flavors on this were so clean, with mineral and hazelnuts, and perfect acidity. A real treat. With the salad course.
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Silton in the review below has the nose of this one pegged dead-on - orange marmalade, citrus, hints of oak, etc. The only thing I'd add is that the nose presents itself as slightly sweet, particularly as it opens up after 30 minutes or so. The same 30 minutes is required for the palate. Frankly, when I initially tasted this I was quite disappointed as the palate showed super young and out-of-sorts. Half an hour goes a long way toward fixing that. Many of the notes from the nose come forward to the palate. The oak is subtle and soft (I'd compare this to ZD Chard, which is relatively subtle but crisp/sharp). Finish is extremely long and pleasant - no tongue-puckering leftovers. Just a hint of very fine tannins.
Somehow, I only bought 2 of these this year. Don't recall if it was me pulling back or lower allocations from Rhys. Sadly, only one bottle left. While it will be tempting to pop it near-term, I think 3-4 years will see this wine showing even better.
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NYE Chardonnay Tasting: The most forward nose and longest finish of the flight, with flavors of orange marmalade and hazelnut along with stones, citrus and oak. The last half a glass that I'm having here in 2010 is drinking great, with lip-smacking minerality and long white fruit flavors.
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This must be one of the most individual, distinctive chardonnays in California by now. I opened this bottle last week and forgot about the leftovers in the fridge, but now is when it's really singing. It's at most a middleweight, but so intense in its personality that the tiniest sip gives your whole mouth instant icy refreshment. The fruit is clean and pure but with such powerful minerality that the chalky back end had me thinking this juice would make a killer Methode Champenoise...
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Rhys (Seasonal): Bigger and thicker than the 2006, not sure if that's simply because it's a year younger or because it's a more concentrated wine. Either way, this is just as bright with a chalky minerality contributing to its freshness. It keeps its size and scale as it sits in the glass but gains in detail. I originally preferred the 2006 but by the end this had pulled ahead.
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2/24/2023 - leadpencil wrote: 94 Points
Medium bodied. Lemon curd and limestone
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8/26/2022 - fisk15 wrote: 92 Points
Deep gold color, apple, orange peel, toasty oak notes. Very good.
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7/3/2022 - WetRock wrote:
Patience is paying off. These are starting to blossom. No coaxing or wondering needed. This one showed a marked flinty character after a couple hours of air. Otherwise its a forwardly expressive now, showing fresh apples, citrus rind, nougat and hints of tropical fruits. Its really cut from its own cloth, not exactly showing like a more valley centered Chardonnay we are used to. But I wouldn't really call it Burgundian either. Quite good.
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6/9/2022 - fredb Likes this wine:
Initially a deep gold color that quickly turns more of a honeyed hue. Aromas of butterscotch, lemon, and buttered popcorn. Palate has striking lemon/grapefruit tartness that pervades from start to finish. Grilled pineapple, mango, grapefruit, lemon, some toasted hazelnut notes show up in the palate over time. The finish is medium-long. This held steady for several hours over which it was consumed. Strong showing and worth the patience. Drink.
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6/8/2022 - jfkwines wrote: 95 Points
Insane golden hue. Like others below I was concerned of the cork but a quci cheese cloth strain into a small decanter and we were good to go. Mango, lemon, a little goldenrod. Paired beatuifully with raw oysters and large shrimp ( not cocktail sauce though) . Drink for an epic white or hold altough I am not sure how much more aging is going to occur
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4/20/2022 - wineack Likes this wine: 96 Points
I was a little concerned about this one when I had trouble getting the cork out. Then when I saw the yellow color in the glass, I was more concerned. I need not have been worried. The wine was absolutely amazing and still has plenty of life ahead of it. The nose showed apple and pear fruit with hazelnut and butterscotch. The fruit on the palate was lush and followed by enough acidity to keep the wine refreshing. I wish that I had several more bottles of this wine. Absolutely stunning! My wife and sister loved it, as well.
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1/7/2022 - Joshbturner Likes this wine:
Love this. As other reviewers in the last year have noted, this wine has a lot of life left. Holding up very well for days in the fridge. What a treat. Wish I had more!
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11/23/2021 - GrapeScott wrote: 89 Points
Lots of pear and quince flavors, with apple peel, marzipan and citrus notes. Mature and probably past its peak.
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8/10/2021 - conform Likes this wine:
Dense and rich, with ample acidity to balance. Striking savory notes of sesame and miso in the nose. Last couple ounces sat in the fridge for a couple days and were still vibrant and intense.
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7/4/2021 - jlm wrote:
Medium gold. Very complex nose with notes of walnut skin, jasmine, chalky mineral, and yellow stone fruit. Wonderfully expressive. The palate is medium full and rich with good brightness and cut. The acidity well integrated but leaves a zing on the back end. The finish is long and flavorful but has a prominent note of grapefruit pith that's slightly bitter and a bit distracting. That aside, this was excellent and drinking in a great place. Bodes well for the development of more recent vintages. Although the alcohol is listed at 13.7%, so about a point higher than most vintages now. It would be interesting to learn what if any differences in vineyard management or winemaking are behind that shift.
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3/20/2021 - texaswinelover wrote:
Was pleasantly surprised a couple of nights ago. Usual crisp acidity and lemony citrus with well defined finish. But best part was the evolution over the next couple nights....delightful roundness with filling out. Much more suited to my acid shy palate. Really enjoyed. Not over the hill by any standard.
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11/19/2020 - MAOC wrote:
Needed a little air on opening but was reasonably ready to go. Maturing citrus and stonefruit, quite ripe and rich, with a classic old school Burgundian buttery edge and a slight stoniness in the background. Perhaps just lacking a little complexity but that didn’t decrease the enjoyment much ****+
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4/25/2020 - millej Likes this wine:
Consumed over the course of a Wine Berserkers Zoom call with Kevin and Jeff
On first opening - beautiful nose, gorgeous mature fruit. Chalk, a hint of matchstick. The finish tails off a bit, not a lot going on
Tightens up a bit with air, some nice citrus notes emerging
10 minutes in a honeyed note starts emerging and the finish is lengthening. really a lovely Burgundian Batardish nose but still a bit light on the palate at this point.
15 minutes - starting to fill out
25 minutes - chalk and a hint of grapefruit, really enjoying this
30 minues - okay, now it's gotten a lot bigger, mouthfilling flavors
45 minutes - much stonier, some plum emerging
60 minutes - With some roast pork shoulder the fruit becomes much sweeter
On day 2 all the flavors have integrated and smoothed out though some complexity has been lost. My guess is that good as it was I missed the best of it around the 2-3 hour mark.
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7/24/2019 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Nose: A- Palate: B++/A-
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8/3/2018 - mlawren1 wrote: 92 Points
Crisp and acidic. Lemon, green apple, and a little honey. Finishes with a hint of tar.
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6/30/2018 - mlawren1 wrote: 93 Points
Perfect wine on a hot day with some crab legs. Bit buttery then gives way to pineapple and green apples. Great wine.
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5/9/2017 - andolini wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Lemon, acidity, minerality, some green apple, petrol, and tartness. Very nice.
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5/2/2017 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Atlanta Does Rhys (Aria, Atlanta, GA): Wonderful complexity, nimble and subtle and finely balanced, it is excellent now but has a bright future left.
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12/27/2016 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Poker night - Bordeaux single blind - 95 GPL, 01 Ausone, 11 The Lovers, 03 Margaux and etc.: Nice mature domestic Chardonnay nose, lemon curl, apple chips, creme brulee, a hint of oak and wet stone. Excellent concentration, nicely integrated palate, good acidity, strong presence of mineral and a long ripe yellow fruit driven finish with a hint of oak at the end. This is a nice mature, well balanced, domestic Chardonnay. I don’t find it Burgundian but very harmonious and enjoyable.
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11/28/2016 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully! Wonderful nose with vibrant citrus, mineral, and a hint of vanilla which carries to a delectable palate and long finish with lively acidity.
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10/23/2016 - thomaskeil Likes this wine: 92 Points
We had the '09 Leroy Bourgogne side-by-side with the '07 Rhys Alpine and the comparison was fun. Both were aging gracefully on a base of flinty acidity and light vanilla. The Leroy had a lighter fruit touch, though with both the fruit was bright, mainly orchard with a touch of citrus. The Leroy cleared the palate quickly while the Rhys left a lasting, evolving palate impression. Both complemented the acorn squash risotto topped with seared black cod, but with the Leroy clearing/separating flavors and the Rhys blending/enhancing them. Both seem near/at maturity with no signs of impending decline.
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8/28/2016 - wilypod Likes this wine: 94 Points
Leesy toasted aroma of butterscotch, sea salt caramel, lemon cream, flinty minerality, apple pie held together with bracing acidity. Full bodied. Almost too much Krug-Like opulence in one bottle, but most beautiful! 4+14+18+8
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8/19/2016 - JBVino wrote:
GOOD. Really good acidity gives this wine great lift. Length and complexity on the palate is compelling.
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4/28/2016 - fredb Likes this wine:
Medium-deep gold color. Aromas of lemon, hazelnut, and pineapple. Palate has quite a lot going on, ranging from marzipan/hazelnut to ripe mango, grilled pineapple, nutmeg, and pear. Finish is medium with acidic zip to keep you coming back to the glass. Has evolved from release and seems to have further positive evolution ahead. Drink or hold.
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4/21/2016 - jrkennedy37 wrote:
Outrageously good. Mineral driven, impeccable balance, still quite young considering almost ten years old.
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3/13/2016 - salil wrote: 89 Points
Leo's Blind Tasting Group - March '16 edition (Gil's): Nice showing. Ripe citrus fruit accented by hazelnut, vanilla, and stony flavours, with other savoury and smoky notes developing with air. Good complexity, though a bit more creamy on the palate than I'd prefer.
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3/1/2016 - gzim Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good showing, an hour in decanter was not enough to allow this to fully open.
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7/23/2015 - sfwineguy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just outstanding at this point. Incredibly rich, well-balanced. I'm trying to avoid the California/Burgundy comparison because they are different wines, but a very good Batard would not outshine it.
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6/6/2015 - dbg wrote:
ATL offline at Cooks and Soldiers. Light gold color. Intense nose of crisp fruit with smoked bacon, great balance, medium body, nice complex mix of minerally/Stoney fruit and smoky/earthy notes, this was a stunning match with the tuna. More accessible out of the gate than the 2005 Jadot Cordon-Charlemagne tasted with it, but as the Jadot warmed and got some air it caught up. Obviously two very different wines but each outstanding in their own right. Ultimately I was more impressed with the Rhys because it was a new experience for me while the Jadot was not. Outstanding.
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6/6/2015 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tighter and less flamboyant than the 2005 Jadot Corton-Charlemagne tasted with it, but it more than holds its own. A little smokey bacon on the nose leads to great minerality and subtle complexity, it opened up quite a bit with air and would benefit from decanting Very impressive.
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5/9/2015 - jlm wrote:
Similar to other recent notes I see here, this is beginning to unfold into a stunning wine, with richness, depth and cut, all at once. If you have several, it's well worth checking in on one now. But it's easy to imagine that this will only continue to improve over the next several years and reveal even more of its complexity.
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11/29/2014 - jheathw Likes this wine: 93 Points
Reminds me of a slightly more unwound version of the 2011 PYCM St Aubin 1er Cru I had earlier this year. Lemon curd, hazelnuts and a touch of butter, all cut with laser-like acidity. Wonderful pairing with top-notch Chinese takeout. A pleasure to drink tonight.
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9/17/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful nose with citrus, mineral, and a hint of vanilla which carries to a delectable palate and finish with lively acidity. Drinking beautifully now!
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8/31/2014 - thomaskeil wrote: 92 Points
Showing some age with its pale golden color and slight hazelnut on the finish. Nose had restrained peach, pear and citrus fruit along with chalky mineral and hint of vanilla. Palate had elegant balance of medium fruit, mineral and fresh acidity; nothing poking out. The finish was cleansing, complex, and balanced and led into a nicely persisting aftertaste. Beautiful with pan seared grouper.
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8/11/2014 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light gold color. Nose of lemon zest, green apple, merengue, and sharp minerality. Medium bodied on the palate with racy acidity through the middle and a long finish.
The cork fragmented pretty badly on opening this wine.
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6/4/2014 - Mlermontov wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with Friends: mineral, light vanilla, on the nose. light peach and pear mid, creamy and thick middle with a long refreshing finish. Touch of alcohol present.
this may have had a touch of TCA - but i am absolutely immune to it. and it did not seem to mar the wine too much since it was still very expressive.
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6/3/2014 - dougsmith wrote: flawed
Very slightly corked, but nevertheless showed well, balanced with plenty of depth and nuance.
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6/3/2014 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 90 Points
this was almost too sharp / astringent, and i am a big fan if extra acid and citrus chardonnay, didn't get enough minerals or fruit to hold up so it was a just miss, don't think this will come around, feel like the '06 and '08 (both of which i have enjoyed a lot) are better even if more rich (which isn't my favorite profile)
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11/29/2013 - dougie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lemon and saline. Full bodied. Surprised at the 2017 drink by date. Did not change over two hours.
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9/16/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
OR and Cal Chards, Burgs, and Old Cal Cabs (GHT): Love this wine. It started a bit slow, but kept picking up steam. Reminds me of a Meursault and a good one at that. Light gold in color. The nose is deep with minerals, slight grapefruit and slight vanilla. Layered. The palate matches with an unwinding complexity. Good acidity. Demands food. Wonderful wine.
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8/14/2013 - brogie62 wrote:
I noticed the petrol component as well. Never experienced that outside of a mature German Riesling. Not dominant but present. Otherwise a very good chard as I would expect from Rhys. Mineral and green apple, nice acidity.
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8/1/2013 - Mr T wrote:
I'm with petrnelson on this one in terms of petroly fumes and almost a penicillin like charateristic which did not add to the wine for any of us...I guess that's minerally but it never got to the point where I really liked what it was giving up. There is a bit left in the fridge that perhaps we can try before going to the airport
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7/20/2013 - silton Likes this wine: 95 Points
Taken to Little Bird Bistro in Portland on vacation earlier in July, so no detailed notes, but this is probably my WOTY. Tons of minerality off the nose, and a palate with several acts that flow seamlessly together.
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7/19/2013 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Decanted at the Eatery: Off the bat tons of reduction/fumey petrol aromas that I like, but it was overpowering, completely hiding the fruit for a while. Later got lots of fresh ripe apple, subtle mixed baking spices, great vibrant acidity/citrus notes in a med. body. Very nice, but I'd love to know more about the reduction aspect in this and if this is common in this bottling. 91-92
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5/20/2013 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 91 Points
wow this was good, had had the 2006 and so bought a couple of these, somewhat like '07 in burgundy this had lots of acid grip, but was bigger than the burgs of 2007, not in 'cali big' style but loads of concentrated lemon and initially some slight sweetness, first sip almost tasted like great old chevalier demoiselles that was drinking like a youngster... super for cali chard, no noticeable oak frankly
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4/13/2013 - davidn Likes this wine: 94 Points
The wine looks Light gold colored. Aromas of Apple, Peach, and River Stone. Sweet Vanilla, and Apple blossom on the pallet along with some Stoneness The body is Light/Medium with a Silky texture and +-20 second finish.
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10/11/2012 - joe d wrote: 90 Points
Really good wine. Don't drink much chardonnay anymore but this one is a winner. Lemon, minerals, a little smoke, medium body with good acidity. Vibrant.
My discrete CT scale: 95-extraordinary; 90-very good; 85-good; 80-fair; 75-poor
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10/2/2012 - rjoyer wrote:
Followed over 2 nights.
It's been 2.5 years since my last bottle, and this is quite similar to how I recall it tasting then, though perhaps with a bit more weight and depth. The color has darkened just a touch from night 1. There is really quite a bit going on on the nose here; lemon pith, flint/slate, and pine nuts all come to mind. I particularly like the keen sense of acidity juxtaposed against the creamy yellow fruits on the palate which, together, pull at the inside of the mouth making for a lengthy finish. This is a really classy effort that should continue to improve in bottle for a few more years. Very tasty stuff here...
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9/29/2012 - slywka7 wrote: 92 Points
Have heard quite a bit about Rhys on the boards but it was my first time trying one. This wasn't your big in your face California Chardonnay but more elegant and nuanced. Kind of reminded me of the Williams Selyem Chardonnay's. Got a slight hint of oak but not hitting you over the head.
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9/15/2012 - cubswinws wrote: 91 Points
Very nice crisp flavors. Not overly citrus and long clean finish.
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6/24/2012 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Darker yellow with a big nose; baked apple full flavored, ample pit fruits with boatloads of acidity. Intense mouth. I thought New World immediately from the color and nose, but the acidity and complexity in the mouth was fantastic. I guessed Corton Charlemagne '05. But I don't think a CC is going to be that forward, dark, and ripe. I just couldn't explain the excellent acidity. 13.7% Probably my WOTN, 92-93.
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6/24/2012 - WetRock wrote:
Decanted ~ 4 hours prior to serving. Served blind. Some sulfur in front of aromas of ripe fruit. Clean up front though a bit rough at the finish. The fruit has a darker quality that is hard to place. Tough placing it but I leaned towards Burg.
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4/10/2012 - Mr T wrote:
I really did not get a taste of this that I can recall...shame on me
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4/1/2012 - kenhoeve wrote: 94 Points
This stuff is straight bonkers good. Day one- tight. strong lemon, slatey minerality, saline, with some pine nut, and a positively lip-smacking acid finish. Day two (just a cork in it, in fridge)- good just got great. Totally unwound, deep, almost unctuous. Starts with a hint of apple/pear fruit before quickly switching to strong lemon again, spicy, nutty, stony, but razor sharp. It is nice and rich and has added a ton of weight. Everything is so well delineated. Can't put it down. 94+ because I don't know how to score chard this good.
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3/19/2012 - etherscreen wrote:
a fantastic showing and everything i want in chardonnay. minerals, saline, lemon curd, intricate yet delicate acid structure. impossible to have too much of this.
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3/19/2012 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a lovely young chardonnay. At first the wine was lemon essence which came through strongly in the mouth. Wow did it explode after a few minutes opened! It became enchanting with smooth cool saline lemon and oyster shells, and slid effortlessly down with persistence and pleasure. Would it make sense if I said this wine has myriad subtle "fruit colors" swimming around the glass?
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2/29/2012 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
An amazing meal (Rhys, SQN, KB, Margaux, Angelus, Ducru, Kalin): This wine is one of my favorite Cal Chards. While clearly of its place, it does have some "Burgundian" qualities in terms of being mineral driven and with a creamy yet not buttery or over powering texture. The nose has minerals and lemon with some lemon rind. On the palate, its more of a lemon chiffon with a nice streak of acidity. Very food friendly. While not the monster that the SQN's were, it had enough cut that I could go back to it afterwards and still not be overpowered. Delicious wine that is showing young still.
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2/16/2012 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 92 Points
Remember Kramer's perfume that makes you smell like you just came from the beach? This is the wine equivalent. The oceanic sandy character is so vivid that as soon as you take a sip you're no longer in the mood for whatever it was you were planning to have for dinner and instead feel almost compelled to head to the shore, steal a boat, and put together a clambake. Unfortunately that wasn't feasible but at least the wine delivers a beach in a glass. It's much fresher than the 2005 was recently and still has brightness and crunch, although perhaps not quite as nimble as it was a few years ago.
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9/17/2011 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Great California Chardonnay and Cabernet: From 1965 to Present (Le Bordeaux Restaurant, San Francisco, California): Light lemon yellow color; lovely, tart lemon, lemon rind, mineral, oyster jus nose; gorgeous, tart lemon, mineral, oyster jus palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish
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7/28/2011 - pismo45 wrote: 91 Points
Intense citrusy fruit, grapefruit in particular. We had it with the wrong type of food, sauteed fish and crab - it needed a sauce of some type. "Youngest" tasting chardonnay for its age that I've ever had. I'm betting it will be a lot more enjoyable in a few years. Not close to peak - for sure.
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7/9/2011 - DougLee wrote: 90 Points
White gold. Nose of apple core, pear, white flowers, stone. Pure, mineral-laden layers of grapefruit, apricot, granny apple on the palate. Modest acidity, slightly shortened finish. Could age and improve lots more.
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5/1/2011 - hudamang wrote:
Brought to a tasting. Slightly spritzy..showed lots of citrus with minerality and some almond notes.
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1/29/2011 - jreis wrote:
Gunpowder, smoky limestome and white pepper in the nose. Nice thick oily texture - lots of lemon and granite on the mid palate. Very precise cut and acidity. Beautiful wine, but still a little reticent at this point in its development, with the promise of even some more complexity to come.
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10/21/2010 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Bātard-Montrachet Blindtasting Dinner (Chez Keith, San Francisco, California): Very light lemon yellow color; nice creamy, lemon, mineral nose; tasty, tight, tart lemon, mineral palate with depth; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.
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9/27/2010 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
Heavy on the lemon citrus component. Goes well with food for this reason...
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8/23/2010 - shaneajohnson wrote: 94 Points
Agree with a note that this was one of the best Chards of the year (and ever) for me. Comparable in quality and pure pleasure to a 2005 Littorai Heintz we had recently. I think age will do well for the other bottle I have.
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8/20/2010 - BonnieM wrote:
All of the previous tasting notes apply. Lovely wine to drink but I may hold my other bottle till at least Thanksgiving just to see what a few more months in the cellar does.
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8/19/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 95 Points
UP there with one of the best chards of the year. Light yellow, crystal clear color. Slight vanilla and oak, mostly well balanced citrus and lemon. The lemon is a nice contrast to the other fruit without being lemony. Bright acidity and balance brings this all together. Restrained in style. Not cloying or sweet. Just fabulous.
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8/1/2010 - jfkwines wrote:
WOTF for many and WOTN for some, I like the Littorai inthe flight more, but it's beautiful yellow color and hay and honeysuckle nose were wonderful.
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7/4/2010 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
2010 July 4th Wine Barbecue at the Pangs: (Almost) All American Wine Lineup (Chez Pang, Sunnyvale, California): Light yellow color; floral, lemon cream, lemon curd nose; tasty, rich, but poised, tart citrus, lemon, mineral palate; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.
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6/26/2010 - steffenpelz wrote:
Great wine. Very classy, very atypical for CA Chardonnay. No butterscotch, not high alcohol, not blowsy. This is a different style altogether. Lovely pale yellow color, and mineral and citrus laden palate that gives you the textural impression of fresh spring water. The fruit is fine and cool, and the length is admirable. It's a more elegant and complex version of the Varner Amphitheater Chards (no disrespect to varner, I love their wines). Brilliant wine, unfortunately, not easy to procure.
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3/26/2010 - rklafter wrote: 96 Points
much better than the 2002 lafite, which wasn't so shabby
top notes of nose brought me back to a bottle of kistler circa 1995. one of the first great bottles i tried. greatness does that sometimes. brings back good memories. mineral and smoke. a bit coche-ey if i say so.
palate is lemon ice and rubberband tight tension of acidity and glycerin. finish is a grower. palate is chablis.
a great wine with good friends and a celebration
perfect
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2/16/2010 - yui wrote: 92 Points
minerals and acids on this is amazing.
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1/11/2010 - Colima74 wrote: 93 Points
My lone bottle, and really sorry to see this go. Opened along with an '05 Drouhin Clos de Mouches Blanc, and there was some similarity. This flavors on this were so clean, with mineral and hazelnuts, and perfect acidity. A real treat. With the salad course.
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1/8/2010 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
Silton in the review below has the nose of this one pegged dead-on - orange marmalade, citrus, hints of oak, etc. The only thing I'd add is that the nose presents itself as slightly sweet, particularly as it opens up after 30 minutes or so. The same 30 minutes is required for the palate. Frankly, when I initially tasted this I was quite disappointed as the palate showed super young and out-of-sorts. Half an hour goes a long way toward fixing that. Many of the notes from the nose come forward to the palate. The oak is subtle and soft (I'd compare this to ZD Chard, which is relatively subtle but crisp/sharp). Finish is extremely long and pleasant - no tongue-puckering leftovers. Just a hint of very fine tannins.
Somehow, I only bought 2 of these this year. Don't recall if it was me pulling back or lower allocations from Rhys. Sadly, only one bottle left. While it will be tempting to pop it near-term, I think 3-4 years will see this wine showing even better.
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12/31/2009 - silton wrote: 95 Points
NYE Chardonnay Tasting: The most forward nose and longest finish of the flight, with flavors of orange marmalade and hazelnut along with stones, citrus and oak. The last half a glass that I'm having here in 2010 is drinking great, with lip-smacking minerality and long white fruit flavors.
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12/3/2009 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 94 Points
This must be one of the most individual, distinctive chardonnays in California by now. I opened this bottle last week and forgot about the leftovers in the fridge, but now is when it's really singing. It's at most a middleweight, but so intense in its personality that the tiniest sip gives your whole mouth instant icy refreshment. The fruit is clean and pure but with such powerful minerality that the chalky back end had me thinking this juice would make a killer Methode Champenoise...
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11/26/2009 - silton wrote: flawed
The nose shows modest cork taint, off and muted. The underlying material is apparent on the palate. Hopefully I can get this replaced.
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6/27/2009 - yhn wrote: 95 Points
Nose - chalky, intense lemon, saline, lemon verbena.
Intense, lemony, zesty, rich, garden herbs, tight, chalky. Excellent. Drink '11-'21.
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4/24/2009 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 91 Points
Rhys (Seasonal): Bigger and thicker than the 2006, not sure if that's simply because it's a year younger or because it's a more concentrated wine. Either way, this is just as bright with a chalky minerality contributing to its freshness. It keeps its size and scale as it sits in the glass but gains in detail. I originally preferred the 2006 but by the end this had pulled ahead.
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