Horseshoe Vineyard Chardonnay

A tasting of nine Rhys Chardonnays spanning 2007-2019.

Still hanging on to a bit too much oak, but rich and bright at the same time.

Amazing, yes

Monthly 4th Friday is post Thanksgiving this year, so lots of Thanksgiving style wines!

Nose of cotton candy, butterscotch, toasted honeycomb and grilled pear. More rich and reductive than the same bottle I had a few months back. Tart, pear juice, grilled lemon and a fairly big size on the palate. Lengthy finish. Don’t think this was flawed, just different in terms of how it’s evolved vs the prior bottle.

Good energy but still shows too much unnecessary lipstick

Surprise of the day. Never had a wine from Rhys but this wine alone made me sign up on the list. Best way to describe this is as a happy marriage between Ceritas chards (steely, lean) and Aubert (powerful, full). The acidity here was a refreshing break from the big, oaked Cali chards but it still retained flavor that balanced tropical note with the oak in check. Supremely balanced.

Just an amazing bottle. If blind tasted I would have immediately thought this was a Burgundy. Best American Chardonnay I have ever tasted. Keep up the good work Rhys!

Toasty oak frame generous amounts of candied citrus fruits, pear and bright apple flavours. Nice acidity on the juicy finish.

Rich and buttery with notes of lemon curd, vanilla custard and touch of butterscotch

Stunning Chardonnay, as pretty as can be. A taste you want to keep tasting.