one of the finest Cali Chardonnays I've had this year. At this stage just a tad more open than the Alpine and my preference by a hair.
Orange zest intermingling with lemon cream, hints of toasted hazelnuts with just a breath of sea breeze. A slight bit of initial reductive notes on the nose faded quickly.
A generous and fleshy palate of stone fruits focuses with sharp acidity in the mid palate and finishes with a plethora of stoney goodness.
Great now, but still with room to improve in the coming years.
a revelation in the potential of Santa Cruz Chardonnay. Attractive in a uniquely natural way... Perfumed in the way fine perfume accentuates... Never to hide the flaws. Full bodied yet clearly feminine. Lush yet focused. I could go on.... The aroma is a fine mesh of vanilla, rose petals and orange rind with a hint of pine.... The palate is a generous blend of white and yellow fruit with a firm backbone of acids and minerals. Superbly balanced.... Full of life ahead... Except for my finished bottle.....
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This wine is singing tonight! Originally opened a bad bottle of the 2010 and opened this 2011 to compensate. A clear indication of the potential for cool climate Cali Syrah... Dark red/purple but clear and almost translucent. Aroma is equal parts violet, plum, leather, and peppercorn. This wine is so expressive and perfume like and yet still clean and focused. Well balanced on the palate, light-medium bodied but still possessing some meatiness. Favorable evolution after an hour or so with hints of chocolate, espresso and sauvage. Still so very young, this wine will benefit from some aging.
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2012 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard
8/28/2015 - Chris NYC Likes this wine: 95 Points
one of the finest Cali Chardonnays I've had this year. At this stage just a tad more open than the Alpine and my preference by a hair.
Orange zest intermingling with lemon cream, hints of toasted hazelnuts with just a breath of sea breeze. A slight bit of initial reductive notes on the nose faded quickly.
A generous and fleshy palate of stone fruits focuses with sharp acidity in the mid palate and finishes with a plethora of stoney goodness.
Great now, but still with room to improve in the coming years.
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2012 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard
8/19/2015 - Chris NYC Likes this wine: 95 Points
a revelation in the potential of Santa Cruz Chardonnay. Attractive in a uniquely natural way... Perfumed in the way fine perfume accentuates... Never to hide the flaws. Full bodied yet clearly feminine. Lush yet focused. I could go on....
The aroma is a fine mesh of vanilla, rose petals and orange rind with a hint of pine.... The palate is a generous blend of white and yellow fruit with a firm backbone of acids and minerals. Superbly balanced.... Full of life ahead... Except for my finished bottle.....
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2011 Wind Gap Wines Syrah Sonoma Coast
9/18/2014 - Chris NYC Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is singing tonight!
Originally opened a bad bottle of the 2010 and opened this 2011 to compensate. A clear indication of the potential for cool climate Cali Syrah...
Dark red/purple but clear and almost translucent. Aroma is equal parts violet, plum, leather, and peppercorn. This wine is so expressive and perfume like and yet still clean and focused. Well balanced on the palate, light-medium bodied but still possessing some meatiness. Favorable evolution after an hour or so with hints of chocolate, espresso and sauvage. Still so very young, this wine will benefit from some aging.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment