TN: 2012 Rhys Pinot Noir San Mateo County

2012 Rhys Pinot Noir San Mateo County - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County (11/12/2014)
Picked this up at the UPS depot, allowed it to sit for at least an hour, and then time to open a 375ml. No sign of any kind of travel shock. The aromatics were quite fine, and the palate was fruity and balanced. Mostly dark red fruit at first, then additional floral and subtle spice elements came through. Very easy to drink, and quite open now, so it’s a good wine to run through while the single vineyard bottlings rest in my cellar.

Posted from CellarTracker

I’m going to nickname you Pobega.

Pobega would have opened one AT the UPS depot.

Opened one of these and a few other Rhys wines over the weekend.

2012 Rhys San Mateo
Cool red and black sappy fruits, classy oak, some coffee and cola with herbal floral undertones on the nose. Slightly sweet fruit and large on the palate, with cool fruits and a cola finish. Much darker and earthier on day 2, with more redwood foresty scents, yet the fruit seemed a bit baked. Still held the cola aspect on the finish. A big hit amongst a few folks yet I’m not a fan of the cola and sweetness. Perhaps too young to make much of a judgement. 90

2012 Rhys Home Vineyard
Dark and brooding nose, with earthy notes and wild forest. Very nice with equal parts earth and intrigue to fruit. Palate holds nice richness, good structure and complex flavors with a slight cola note and silky tannin on the finish. Somewhat muscular and very good. 93

2012 Rhys Horseshoe Chardonnay
From 375. Man is this good. Big nose filled with citrus, lemon, hazelnut, and bready spices. Racy richness on the palate, just great texture with vivid flavors and ripping beams of acidity. Finishes long with a powdery mineral note and spices. The great texture and richness reminds me of a recently tasted 2010 Jadot Corton Charlie. Brilliant. 94

We opened one last Wed.
I agree with the mocha/cola but I did not find it off-putting. It will probably improve but I doubt I will be able to keep my greedy paws away for long.

Are there some single vineyard PN’s from Rhys that tend to have cola characteristics?

I haven’t picked it up in any SVD’s before, but I have not had any other appellation blend bottles and only tasted the Home vineyard once 4-5~ years ago at a Rhys dinner. It seems the 2012 San Mateo is predominantly from Family Farm, so I may try one of my FF bottles soon. I’m looking at the critic notes right now and it seems John Gilman and Josh Raynolds cite cola across various sites (Home, San Mateo, Horseshoe, Alpine).