After reading some concerning notes in another thread about Rhys Chardonnays, I decided to grab all in cellar, line them up and see what I have and go thru them over the next couple weeks.
Turns out there is 2006 - 2010 Alpines, a 2011 Horseshoe and a single 2009 Santa Cruz. Why not start at the beginning so 2006 and 2007 Alpine tonight with folks in town. Added 2009 and a flawed 2010. Newly added 2008. So far very high quality Chardonnays, but vintage dependent for my tastes. Will revisit 2010 after corked bottle.
2006 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay
Cork was a bit of a bugger to get out, but the ah-so managed it cleanly. Color pours as light straw, no hint at 12 years of age. Nose is white flowers, spice, lemons, guava, hint of pineapple. Palate is surprisingly rich with almond skin, lemon, green and yellow apple and bright acidity. Finish is long. No problem putting this in a lineup with any California Chardonnay. Awesome wine.
2007 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay
Cork a little more fragile than 2006. Color pours a medium straw. Nose has yellow apple, marzipan, yellow flowers, spice and lemon, definitely more mature than the 2006. Palate mirrors the nose, more mature with bruised apple, lemon, spice and bright acidity. Less balanced than 2006 as the acidity is a bit more than the fruit leaving it a tad off balance. Solid, if unspectacular bottle of Chardonnay, but far prefer the 2006 by a wide margin, of course I only had 1 of those…
2009 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay
Color pours a tad darker than the 2007. Yellow apple, lemon, orange zest and pineapple with a touch of spice, less than previous two wines. Palate is ripe and shows medium minus acidity. Yellow fruits and missing a bit of zip to really balance and flesh out the palate. So far my preference is 06, 07, 09 in that order.
2010 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay
Boo. Corked. Have one more I’ll have to revisit.
Oh well.
2008 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Chardonnay
What a great nose of apple, honeysuckle, spice, almond skin and meyer lemon. Palate shows a menagerie of yellow and green fruits giving it balance, with a floral element, cardomom and a touch of residual oak. Really well balanced and my second favorite revisiting these to the 2006.