Vineyard: Alpine

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Rhys Vineyards: Three Vintage Tasting (8.30 1/27/2011)
California Pinot With Plenty of Noir (8.37 5/13/2011)
Prince’s Excellent Adventure at WOPN (6.56 3/23/2008)
Rhys Vineyards: Tasting Recent Vintages is a Revelation (9.13 10/26/2012)
Recent Chardonnays to Recommend (8.37 5/13/2011)

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Rhys Vineyards

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2008 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.3% alc., $59. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. The aromas are clean and airy, smelling of a vast meadow of damp earth and brush, but also endowed with scents of ripe dark cherries and black raspberry syrup. I find this nose enchanting. On the palate, the wine offers a dark red fruit festival with a hint of baking spices showing more body, more finish and better integrated tannins than the 2007 vintage version. Very flavorful now but still young at heart. Reviewed October 26, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2008 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Swan Terrace Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.0% alc., $59. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy aromas of darker berries, briar and dark chocolate. Fresh, juicy and modestly rich, offering flavors of mixed blue and black berries backed by ripe, firm tannins. Still young, and a bit monotone now, the wine opens slowly and reluctantly in the glass. The finish, even now, is notable for its staying power. Slightly better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, showing a lighter character and more acidity than the 2007 vintage version. Very good. Reviewed October 26, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2008 Rhys Vineyards Alpine Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

13.3% alc., $59. Hyde and Wente selections, 76 and 96 clones planted to 6’ x 4’ at 1380 feet on soils with top soil over soft shale. Yield of 1.8 tons per acre. · Moderately light golden yellow color. Lovely perfume of lemon curd, white stone fruits and stewed apples. Delicious and layered, with notes of green apple, pears, brioche and toast. The wine has a bright steeliness due to the lively acidity. A beautiful wine that packs in plenty of flavor at modest alcohol: a win-win situation. Will age. Reviewed January 27, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2008 Rhys Vineyards Alpine Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.3% alc., $59. Heritage and suitcase selections planted to 6’ x 4’ at 1230 feet on soils with top soil over soft shale. Yields 1.04 tons per acre. · Moderately intense reddish-purple color in the glass. Intense and intoxicating perfume of purple fruits, dried roses, and whole-cluster induced spiciness. A bit reticent, but offering a glimpse of intense plum and dark berry fruits that saturate the palate without being weighty, persisting on the intensely fruity finish that is highlighted by exotic spices and edible flowers. Nothing out of place. Much more open and giving two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Still a Lolita with huge potential. Reviewed January 27, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2008 Rhys Vineyards Swan Terrace Alpine Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.0% alc., $69. 1.5 acres, 20% slope, planted to a Swan field blend in 6’x4’ spacing. 12”-18” topsoil over soft shale. Yields 1 ton per acre. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. With intense swirling, an appealing scent of mixed berry preserves, crushed black grapes, and a hint of floral perfume emerges. The wine offers well-endowed flavors of plum sauce and dark red raspberries, cola and grilled meat. Rather linear now with the fruit buried in flamboyant tannins. There is some earth and mineral infused quality to the fruit which is appealing and I sense that this wine will perform beautifully in another five years. The wine benefited from re-corking the bottle and sampling it the next day. A connoisseur’s wine with unlimited potential. Reviewed May 15, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.3% alc., $49. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Wonderful nose replete with bright aromas of black cherries, cherry pie, spice, vanilla, pipe smoke and an earthy goodness. Moderately rich basket of fresh black cherries wrapped in firm, slightly astringent tannins, filling the palate with flavor, finishing long and very dry. Much more interesting and expressive the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Patience will be rewarded. Very good (+). Reviewed October 26, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rhys Vineyards Alpine Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., $49. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Enticing aromas of black cherries, black raspberries, spice and vanillin. Richly fruited with dense but crisp flavors of ripe dark fruits nicely spiced, mineral-imbued, and caressed by structured tannins. A silky and seductive wine that has charm. Unchanged one and two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Very good. Reviewed January 27, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Swan Terrace Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., $59. From a 1.5-acre section of Alpine Vineyard planted to a Swan field blend. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Another aromatic wonderland with scents of berry jam, spice, and an exotic floral note. Better and better over time in the glass. Would love to make a perfume like this. Amazingly fresh flavors of alpine strawberries with an interesting candied and edible flower note. I have never tasted anything quite like this in a California Pinot Noir. The wine displays healthy tannins, but they are better integrated in this wine and nicely balanced by the lively acidity. Filled with verve and intrigue, this is a wine to savor. Flat-out great the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Reviewed October 26, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rhys Vineyards Alpine Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., $59. Clones are Hyde, Wente, 76 and 96 planted at 1380 feet elevation. Soils are 24” top soil over soft shale. Yield 1.28 tons per acre. · Light straw color in the glass. Crisp aromas of crushed rocks, metal shavings, flint, Asian pear and green apple. A restrained, classic style with flavors of green apple, lemon, and flint, enlivened by a good grip of acidity, finishing bone dry. A sophisticated and terroir-driven Chardonnay distinct from the commonplace California fruit and oak-driven style. Tasted two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the wine was fresh, crisp and taut. Burgundy nuts will go ga-ga over this wine. Reviewed May 15, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Rhys Vineyards Alpine Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

Most of the wine’s “clones” are heritage selections such as Calera, Hyde, Swan, Wente (a total of 16 different clones). · Still a baby with plenty of tannins to shed, but the fruit core is strikingly pure and satisfying. Richly layered, sturdy on the palate, and possessing a suave texture. Reviewed March 23, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Rhys Vineyards Alpine Hillside Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $49. Sourced from the steepest and lowest yielding section of Alpine Vineyard (see photo above). · Deeply colored. Muted aromas of dark fruits with a very appealing hint of exotic spices. Luscious broad-shouldered fruit core with impressive intensity, backed by firm tannins and offering an amazing persistence on the glorious finish. Similar in flavor to the regular Alpine Vineyard bottling but ramped up a notch. Drinking great two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. An impressive effort that should continue to evolve in years to come. Reviewed January 27, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »