One of the great producers of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the Rhys Vineyards sources from extreme mountain vineyards in Sonoma and the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is no surprise that more and more wineries are being started in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The rugged, rocky terroir can produce some world class wines. Following in the esteemed lines of Ridge and Mount Eden, Rhys Vineyards produces their best wine from the Alpine Vineyard which is located ten miles from the coast and is set on chalky Purisima Formation soils which are both shallow and rocky. This extreme vineyard site has slopes which range up to a 40% grade.
Here we have a really good map of the vineyards owned by Rhys Vineyards.
The founder of Rhys Vineyards, Kevin Harvey, had a successful software career prior to stating his winery. He began planting Pinot Noir in his backyard near the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA and has had his first vintage in 2004. The new releases by Rhys were seriously good across the board. One thing that resonated throughout the lineup was the sterling minerality and the marvelous terroir that showed in the wines. I am particularly enamored with the potential of wines made from the Alpine Vineyard. Their current release Chardonnay the 2013 Rhys Vineyards ‘Alpine Vineyard’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) is a remarkable wine that shows incredible tension and poise, with gobs of mouth-watering acidity. It is a complete wine. I was also enamored by the 2014 Rhys Vineyards ‘Alpine Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which also showed a dazzling minerality and marvelous elegance with beautiful red fruits. This is one for the cellar. Learn more about this incredible new lineup of wines at https://rhysvineyards.com Here are the exciting new wines by Rhys Vineyards
2016 Alesia ‘Santa Cruz Mountains’ Chardonnay- This shows nice opulence on the bouquet with brandy soaked pear, white flowers and vanilla creme brulee. The palate shows a good combination of fruit weight and balance, with tree and citrus fruit flavors and an exceedingly long finish. The minerality and kumquat accents are really nice here. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2016 Alesia ‘Anderson Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2016 Alesia ‘Anderson Valley’ Chardonnay shows a more intense aromatic profile than the ‘Santa Cruz Mountains’ bottling, with toasty oak, Pink Lady apple pie and nutmeg with a touch of smoke. The palate shows good tension and weight, with Meyer lemon cream and butterscotch flavors most prominent. This is an outstanding effort that will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2013 Rhys Vineyards ‘Alpine Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Already with some bottle age, the 2013 Rhys Vineyards ‘Alpine Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a stunning rendition. The densely planted, steep sloped, ‘Alpine Vineyard,’ lies ten miles from the Pacific Ocean. This cool site is known for constant fog. The nose gathers a wonderful opulence and salinity. Smoke, ripe pear, butterscotch and salted praline aromas come to mind. Silky smooth through the palate, the wine shows wonderful intensity with Meyer lemon oil, vanilla creme brûlée and Challah bread flavors beautifully combining in the glass. The dazzling minerality here is simply astounding. A complete wine, this will cellar well for decades, but is irresistible right now. Drink 2018-2033- 95
2016 Alesia ‘Santa Cruz Mountains’ Pinot Noir- A translucent reddish-orange, the 2016 ‘Santa Cruz Mountains’ Pinot Noir by Alesia shows a wonderful nose with citrus rind, bran-cherry and teaberry with a touch of cardamom spice. The palate displays wonderful texture and minerality with red cherry cola, sassafras, blood orange and a vibrant minerality. This is seriously good. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2016 Alesia ‘Anderson Valley’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Anderson Valley’ Pinot Noir takes on a bit less intensity than the ‘Santa Cruz Mountains’ wine. Medium bodied, with good complexity, I get citrus rind and red fruits that combine with the good tension. This shows good elegance. Drink 2018-2028- 90
2014 Rhys Vineyards ‘Alpine Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from the steeply sloped ‘Alpine Vineyard’ this Pinot Noir begins with gorgeous aromas of smoke, forest floor, mulberry and cherry cola. The silky texture and elegance to this wine is simply outstanding, as is the wonderful astringency and tension. Red currant jelly, red cherry cordial, cola and peat moss flavors captivate the senses. This is a truly outstanding Pinot Noir that will age gracefully for the next two plus decades. Drink 2018-2035- 94
2014 Rhys Vineyards ‘Bearwallow Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Located in the Anderson Valley, the Bearwallow Vineyard is a steep site first planted in 2008. This starts off with a bouquet of teaberry, orange zest and gran-cherry aromatics that build in the glass. The palate is lithe and downright delicious, giving way to red cherry candy, cola, Satsuma orange and bulls blood flavors. The savory and Umami aspects to this wine are absolutely fabulous. Enjoy this over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2018-2033- 93
2013 Rhys Vineyard ‘Horseshoe Vineyard’ Syrah- Located near the Alpine Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, the Horseshoe Vineyard was first planted in 2004 and totals 17.5 acres. The nose is delightfully smoky with black and red fruits building in the glass. The terroir here is marvelous, as the salinity and Umami characters really drive this wine. Wild blackberry pie, sea salt, red currant, and BBQ flavors with smoked black cherry compote all mingle together. This is tremendous, terroir-driven Syrah, that is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2018-2030- 94