I posted this message over at CT forums but was encouraged to repost over here as there are more Rhys fans on this board apparently…
Several folks - both on this board and via my local wine community - have suggested I look into Rhys Pinot Noir for its “Burgundian-like” qualities in a new world PN.
This morning I finally got around to searching for some Rhys on wine-searcher and was surprised at all of the various options that popped up. First, I was hoping someone could explain the difference between Rhys and Rhys Alesian? Which of the two is more Burgundian in style? Given the price differences between the two, I’m guessing the non-Alesian variety…
Lastly, what are the preferred vineyards for the various Pinots? I saw Alpine and several others.
Just looking at exploring this producer and appreciate any guidance on where to start. Many thanks
There is a ton of information on their web site (https://www.rhysvineyards.com/) about the Rhys vs. Alesia labels (Rhys is estate grapes, Alesia is purchased grapes), the vineyards, drinking windows, etc. It is one of the most informational winery websites around.
Don’t go into Rhys expecting “Burgundian-like” Pinot or you’ll be disappointed. They are generally outstanding wines that speak of their unique vineyard sites, none of which are in Burgundy.
David,
It’s probably best to let other BOD members answer your questions and I hope I don’t deter them, but here are some of my thoughts.
“Burgundian” is somewhat controversial descriptor as it means different things to different people. If Burgundian means wines that are made with Burgundian sensibilities meaning wines that are balanced, pure and reflective of their origins, I hope that all of our wines would qualify. We try very hard to achieve those qualities. For example, through farming and site selection we are able to have natural alcohols in the 12-13.5% range. We also prefer fresher fruit flavors that some would consider more Burgundian than riper styles.
Do our wines taste exactly like Burgundy? I enjoy reading the debate that this question often generates so I rarely give my opinion but I think many of our vineyard’s wines often show as much difference between each other as they do with than any specific Burgundy. The question is especially difficult to answer as I often wonder which Burgundies to compare our wines to. There is quite a difference between Cote De Nuits Grand Crus, pure un-oaked Volnays and red fruited village wines, not to mention the overall difference of character between cool and warm vintages! FWIW, when I have conducted blind tastings with Burgundies and Rhys wines, the tasters have been been fooled more often than not. I have seen reports on this board with opposite results. I think people are less likely to guess correctly in a truly blind situation and when our wines are compared to Burgundies of similar age (they are often compared to much older Burgundies) and similar vintage profile (meaning ripe CA vs ripe Burgundy years or Cool CA vs Cool Burgundy). All of that said, making wines that taste like Burgundies is not really our goal. Our primary objective (which might be too idealistic) is to develop vineyards in sites that we think have so much individual personality that tasters can identify the site’s unique characteristics.
This morning I finally got around to searching for some Rhys on wine-searcher and was surprised at all of the various options that popped up. First, I was hoping someone could explain the difference between Rhys and Rhys Alesian? Which of the two is more Burgundian in style? Given the price differences between the two, I’m guessing the non-Alesian variety…
Rhys and Alesia wines are made exactly the same way so the differences stem from site selection, vineyard design and farming. Our Rhys sites are primarily rocky and often make wines that are more mineral driven and structured than deeper soiled, more fruit driven sites.
Lastly, what are the preferred vineyards for the various Pinots? I saw Alpine and several others.
This is a very tough for me to answer so I better leave this one to others!
I think a cheaper entree to Rhys wines is to find a bottle of their 09 Rhys Santa Cruz Mtns Pinot, which was made from declassified grapes and is ready to drink now. This will give you an inkling on what they are like.
After that if you are still interested, then you’ll have to sign up on their mailing list and see if you can source previous vintage bottles from places like KLwines.com. There are auction lots that pop up from time to time.
Each vintage is different and Rhys’ approach to each vineyard’s viticulture has been fine tuned each year.
If I had a gun to my head, I’d put Horseshoe as my favorite (big, brooding, tannic…although this has been toned down some in the recent vintages), followed closely by Skyline (florals and florals) and Swan Terrace. The other bottlings are not worse, but just different. The 2011 Home was amazing, and the Bearwallow shows improvement each vintage.
David, you can take a look at Wine Bid and see if you want to dabble from there. The wines are scarce because they are all the things that Kevin already said. In terms of Carys’ take, and he and I have compared notes on Rhys in the past, I’d tend to agree with him but I would say Swan Terrace (the most expensive), Skyline and Home are what spin my wheels for the pinot. If it helps, and I am just one opinion that you can use as a reference, I have a pretty good sized library of Rhys notes in CT. I do seek a restrained, balanced style that Kevin makes so this may echo in my opinion as to what I like.
Thanks to everyone that has chimed in. Based on the comments presented, it sounds like Rhys’ Pinots are right up my alley. When I made reference to “Burgundian” style earlier, I should have been clearer in that I prefer a balanced PN with more minerality and generally lower alcohol content. Until now, the only PN thy has done this for me has been Burg, but I am definitely going to explore Rhys some more.
I actually just checked my old emails to see if I had previously signed up forthright mailing list and it appears that I did sign up a few years ago and was offered my first allocation this past February (email mentioned Bearwallow Ranch). Shame on me for not ordering, but I clearly didn’t know at the time just how close of a match this wine is with my desired style. Hopefully I get another crack at the next release…
David - WineBid, WineCommune and K&L auctions are probably your best bets. I’d suggest the commerce corner here on WB but you’d be on your own there.
Not a great deal of selection on this week’s WineBid Auction: "rhys" | WineBid
Personally, I’m a big fan of the Alesia label and I’d still recommend those wines. However, I’d preface that by stating that the Alesia wines are a ‘variation on the theme’ as most of those wines come from Sonoma Coast versus the Santa Cruz Mtns. On the positive side, these wines are both slightly cheaper and a tad bit easier to come by. The 2006 Alesia San Mateo is a tremendous wine if you can find a bottle (note - the grapes in this wine originate from Rhys vineyards and not SC as stated above).
Dave-
I’ll get skewered for saying say, but you are a bud, so I’ll try to help you out… I agree with Z here. There is nothing ‘burgundian’ about Rhys at all. They are a very California styled wine, albeit one that strives for low alcohol. I am not talking quality, simply style. If you want a burgundian pinot, you need to try Skewis or Swan.
Rhys does have a unique mouthfeel which is all their own.
I would say that they are Burgundian in the sense that they try and IMO succeed in reflecting their respective terroirs. Those terroirs are not, of course, in Burgundy. But what I find wonderful and fascinating is how distinctly they are able to let those terroirs shine through.
If you do some searching on this board you might find a Kevin Harvey post or two where he geeks out on soil. They are fascinating and reading and give a great deal of insight into the Rhys philosophy.
In the words of the inimitable Tom Hill I’ve been following Rhys from the very beginning (at least the commercially released wines) so I’ve had a chance to see which vineyards I prefer and it’s great that my favorites are not everyone else’s favorites. They are all excellent wines but stylistic preferences will definitely come into play.
Before commenting on the pinots I want to put in a good word for the chardonnays and for recent vintages of the syrahs. In the earlier years I claimed their Alpine chardonnay was perhaps their best wine and I still think it’s up there in the top though others have caught up. Conversely I was not all that thrilled by their syrahs until trying their first Horseshoe syrah and loving it.
For the pinots pinots my personal favorites are Home and Horseshoe. Most of my other Burg loving friends have the Skyline as their favorite (I can understand that as the nose is perhaps the most beguiling of all the pinots) though some include the Swan in their top two. Family Farm has a special place in my heart as it’s a wine I have consistently enjoyed and watched improve steadily since the first release. I thought it really came into its own with the '08 vintage. It has occasionally had some brett which I also enjoy though others complain about it. Bearwallow was a recent acquisition and the second vintage was a huge improvement on the first after they had full control of vineyard management. Haven’t tasted the third but am looking forward to it as the soil is apparently the same as one of my other favorite CA pinots - the Copain Kiser En Haut. Alpine I usually find more dark fruited and perhaps riper than the others. Probably my least favorite stylistically once again I know several people who have it as their favorite.
Hope this was of some use, they are definitely a producer I wish enough storage to cellar more of.
2011 bearwallow pinot was quite good. Its tannin profile has become less and less astringent and rough with each vintage under Rhys’ viticulture. Definitely buy a few bottles of whatever you’re offered bc 2011 yields were so low, even long time buyers will have low allocations.
Do try their syrahs and chards too.
Rhys wines pop up often on klwines auction posts. They also show up as a normal consignment sale at times but you can get a better price from the auction lots.
Setup an alert on klwines to email you whenever “rhys” shows back in stock/auction.