Rhys Vineyards

Horseshoe Hillside Pinot Noir

9.418 ratings
9.84 pro ratings
Santa Cruz Mountains, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
Brian S

Christmas spices, candy apple, roasted strawberries, black cherry, touch of herbs but plenty of fruit and spice

Christmas spices, candy apple, roasted strawberries, black cherry, touch of herbs but plenty of fruit and spice

Mar 1st, 2024
Scott Wren

Beautifully pure red fruit with some spicy herbal notes.

Beautifully pure red fruit with some spicy herbal notes.

Nov 24th, 2017
Brian S

So young but already so great! If you can get your hands on this bottling get some!

So young but already so great! If you can get your hands on this bottling get some!

1 person found it helpfulJun 16th, 2021
Brian S

I will give this wine a slight nod over the 2019 and really it is all to do with the one extra year in bottle. Yes these were infants but fascinating to see what these young beauties taste like out of the gate.

I will give this wine a slight nod over the 2019 and really it is all to do with the one extra year in bottle. Yes these were infants but fascinating to see what these young beauties taste like out of the gate.

1 person found it helpfulJun 16th, 2021
Daniel Steilen

Woah. This is going to be outstanding. Now it’s simply great. Already had tons of good aromatics, but fruit is a little more focused on syrupy juicy cherry to dark cherry and doesn’t have enough other elements well developed. Great body and balance. Delicious, but definitely hold.

Woah. This is going to be outstanding. Now it’s simply great. Already had tons of good aromatics, but fruit is a little more focused on syrupy juicy cherry to dark cherry and doesn’t have enough other elements well developed. Great body and balance. Delicious, but definitely hold.

1 person found it helpfulSep 29th, 2018
Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.7

À few years back Josh Jansen of Calera fame served me a Napa Valley Pinot Noir 1981 by Robert Mondavi. It was magnificent. 30+ years old, it was still vibrant and sublime. THIS wine may well be the modern interpretation of that wine. Physiologically ripe tannins at 12,4% by vol with juicy, fresh and lingering acidity are counterbalanced by sweet red berries and pronounced, slate-infused minerality. This bottle is just entering its prime drinking window, but it has enough stuffing for extended cellaring too. Best from 2019 thru 2030 (at least). It makes me wonder why California winemakers push Pinot Noir ripeness through the roof? They should all taste this truly classic version! 96-98+

À few years back Josh Jansen of Calera fame served me a Napa Valley Pinot Noir 1981 by Robert Mondavi. It was magnificent. 30+ years old, it was still vibrant and sublime. THIS wine may well be the modern interpretation of that wine. Physiologically ripe tannins at 12,4% by vol with juicy, fresh and lingering acidity are counterbalanced by sweet red berries and pronounced, slate-infused minerality. This bottle is just entering its prime drinking window, but it has enough stuffing for extended cellaring too. Best from 2019 thru 2030 (at least). It makes me wonder why California winemakers push Pinot Noir ripeness through the roof? They should all taste this truly classic version! 96-98+

1 person found it helpfulAug 30th, 2017
WC Fields

500ml “sampler” bottle. Young but drinking really well with time to age gracefully.

500ml “sampler” bottle. Young but drinking really well with time to age gracefully.

Mar 6th, 2022
Harry C

This is a nice, juicy, fruity wine, but I love that the fruit is not too forward. It is elegant and round, with a beautiful finish.

This is a nice, juicy, fruity wine, but I love that the fruit is not too forward. It is elegant and round, with a beautiful finish.

Sep 23rd, 2017
Kurt-Inge Eklund

Kurt-Inge had this 7 years ago

Kurt-Inge had this 7 years ago

May 20th, 2017
Andrew Rucker

Andrew had this a month ago

Andrew had this a month ago

Mar 22nd, 2024