Rhys Vineyards
Swan Terrace Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
Still a baby. Drinks fine but tastes more or less the same as it did five years ago, absent a bit less tannin.
Still a baby. Drinks fine but tastes more or less the same as it did five years ago, absent a bit less tannin.
Aug 13th, 2017Lots of whole cluster makes this wine a little astringent on the finish. I appreciate the idea here less whole cluster would be better this vintage.
Lots of whole cluster makes this wine a little astringent on the finish. I appreciate the idea here less whole cluster would be better this vintage.
Jun 26th, 2017This arguably the best new world Pinot Noir I've had. Definitely in the top 5. Still could use time, and has 20 years more, easily. True balance of powerful aromatics, defined yet not overbearing red berry fruits, spice, sous bois, super fine and well intergraded tannins, and lively acidity. Truly a great wine.
This arguably the best new world Pinot Noir I've had. Definitely in the top 5. Still could use time, and has 20 years more, easily. True balance of powerful aromatics, defined yet not overbearing red berry fruits, spice, sous bois, super fine and well intergraded tannins, and lively acidity. Truly a great wine.
Dec 27th, 2015A very good Rhys, riper than most of their Pinots at 13.6 which I appreciated, good balance of meatiness and fruit.
A very good Rhys, riper than most of their Pinots at 13.6 which I appreciated, good balance of meatiness and fruit.
May 26th, 2015Quite nice. Had that plush core, red fruits, still waiting for structure/integration.
Quite nice. Had that plush core, red fruits, still waiting for structure/integration.
Mar 17th, 2016Just noticed I had a 9.0 instead of 9.6, late nite, it was very good
Just noticed I had a 9.0 instead of 9.6, late nite, it was very good
Jan 8th, 2016One of my more recent realizations on Rhys is that when they shut down, they shut down hard, so I'm trying to enjoy some more of my stash in the early window of opportunity. This one is definitely still there, so rich at first that it's practically saucy though without any candied flavors. Rhys always benefits from a long decant but this one was so primary it needed even more time than most to show its underlying contours and reveal some of the rocks beneath the fruit. What I love about the house style is here even though this flirts with being too much of a good thing - for all that dense, saturating, luscious fruit, there is still a whole lot of energy and vibrancy here too.
One of my more recent realizations on Rhys is that when they shut down, they shut down hard, so I'm trying to enjoy some more of my stash in the early window of opportunity. This one is definitely still there, so rich at first that it's practically saucy though without any candied flavors. Rhys always benefits from a long decant but this one was so primary it needed even more time than most to show its underlying contours and reveal some of the rocks beneath the fruit. What I love about the house style is here even though this flirts with being too much of a good thing - for all that dense, saturating, luscious fruit, there is still a whole lot of energy and vibrancy here too.
May 23rd, 2015