Rhys, Skyline Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains

As delicious as the last bottle!

2009 vintage

Wine is just humming, strawberries and raspberries flow out of the glass. Finishes with cirrants and earth.

2009 vintage

PNP. Very Burgundian nose of earthy cherry and some whole cluster sandalwood and Asian spice. Saline infused palate, ripe and full with a lovely texture.

2009 vintage

This is the best Rhys I think I have ever had. Notes of silky black cherry, black plum, and kirsch liqueur over an elegant and restrained frame of sweet baking spices. Balance and a delight to drink. In a very good spot now; I see no reason for holding on to it much longer.

2009 vintage

One of, if not the most compelling bottle of Rhys PN I've had. Constantly shifting nose with sweet red cherry, spice, cola, and mineral. At moments it was fruity and sweet, at others savory. Very harmonious in the mouth, with relaxed mature fruit but also energy from the acidity and light remaining tannins. Expansive finish. Impressive wine.

2009 vintage

There was a slight issue with the cork. There was clearly a touch of wine on top of the cork. Just enough to show right along where it touched the bottle. Once pulled, there was a narrow streak up the cork that was the breach. It looked minor enough I wasn't so concerned but its certainly worth noting. I bought this from the winery and stored it in a professional facility ever since. The wine showed quite stemmy initially. Strongly …

2009 vintage

Wine is singing, strawberries and raspberries just float out of the glass. Long smooth finish gives way to a little earth. Great wine.

2009 vintage

Served blind, which included the 2009 Swan Terrace in the flight. To me, the Skyline is better. Why? It is starting to show a bit of age, so there is some cedar and tobacco floating about but it's a light seasoning. The fruit is tangy and red, with a weightless quality and a mineral finish. The fruit perception to me remains fresh, and aside from the light imprint of some age, this was showing excellent.

2009 vintage

Beautiful exotic aromas. The palate has good texture with melting tannins. Raspberry, florals, becoming a little more tannic with air, but a seriously delicious wine.

2009 vintage

Rather dark in hue. Some signs of age with a black, blood red color. Nose is quite fragrant and complex with spiced red berry fruit, Asian teas, herbs, and dried rose notes. Palate has a elegant and soft fine cotton texture (not quite silk) with mediums weight red fruit flavors supported by a nice backbone of acidity and still quite fine, ripe tannins that provide some dryness and puckering on the very long finish. This has great balance and harmony …

2009 vintage

either going through a dumb phase or starting to go over the hill

2009 vintage

Delicious slightly sour red cherries with earth and spice notes on the nose and palate with a long savory finish.

2009 vintage

Rhys Wine Dinner (RPM Steak - Chicago IL) : More red than black fruit with nice supporting cast of floral, spice, structure, and earth characteristics. Fruit is clearly ripe, but everything is easily balanced. Very good now, this should hold/drink well for another decade, but I doubt there is further upside.

2009 vintage

NR - Cork failed and wine was leaking from under the foil. Wine was oxidized. This wine was stored in a professional temperature controlled cellar since release.

2009 vintage

12.6% abv. Medium dark burgundy red, moderately aromatic. Black raspberry, baking spice and mint highlight the palate impression. Medium depth and length. This is an energetic, fairly light bodied wine that is drinking well now, but will probably not benefit from further cellar time.

2009 vintage

Rich, dense red berries -- cherry and red currant -- in kind of a sweet-tart balance, with green herbs and exotic spices joining in. Good structure sustains the fruit so that for all the richness and intensity, it never feels fat. Everything seems harmonious. Delicious and dangerously easy to drink.

2009 vintage

PnP, enjoyed over the next 4 hours. Served with salmon. Very aromatic with cherry, florals, herb, earth and spice. Lots of flavor with cherry, strawberry, herb, earth, spice, stems. Good acidity keeps the wine vibrant. Long smooth finish. showing really well now, but no hurry to open my last bottle. Better than at release, time has been good to this wine.

2009 vintage

Popped and poured. Medium ruby color. Nose of dark berry, fennel, iodine, damp earth, violets. On the palate, ripe dark plum, black raspberry, and pomegranate on initial attack with a second, deeper wave of richness and concentration on each sip. Hits of iron and currant also. Moderate acidity and still structured tannin drenched by dense fruit. Long, extended finish of same lower-pitched plum fruit with a bit of candied cherry alongside, accompanied by stone and grip. Very impressive but just …

2009 vintage

Pop and pour and served slightly above cellar temp, and allowed to warm up over time. Deep garnet color. Clear. Enjoyable aromas of fresh red berries, some sandalwood notes and floral notes. Hint of wood smoke. Nice fresh red berries, in a lively yet elegant package. Some red cherry and blackberry fruits. Acidity gives it lift and keeps it refreshing. Enjoyable. As this has warmed, it has taken on a bit more weight and shows a bit more of brown …

2009 vintage

Needs air to open up. Starts out rusty and more evolved than anticipated (the Horseshoe is still sweet and fruity). But with a few hours it turns super-silky and while it never gets to the point of showing any overtly ripe fruit, it does pick up some more restrained blackberry and cranberry shades, laced with gravel on the back.

2009 vintage

Well made and mannered wine, just boring.

2009 vintage

Light on its feet and walking the line. Everything is there but the savoriness really shines. Mid-stride but plenty ready. Def not your typical Cali PN. Thanks to FMIII.

2009 vintage

Decanted for ~30 minutes. A truly impressive bottle that was heads and tails superior to an '09 Horseshoe Pinot i had a couple of weeks ago (which was quite rich with overt stems). Everything about this Pinot is in harmony. Bright, complex nose with layers of cherry, florals, herb, earth and spice. The palate has concentration but is so light on it's feet and airy. Long, silky finish. Stellar and drinking very well now.

2009 vintage

Initially a fantastic nose, cherry, strawberry, underbrush and forest floor, nice balanced red fruits, silky palate with cream and spice. It is not all that big and with air it actually gets a bit softer. The finish builds a bit after a somewhat flat mid-palate. Drinks well now, but should last another 5 years easy before any decline. Very good, but not worth the current market value IMO.

2009 vintage

The nose on this wine is spectacular, showing sandalwood, Asian spice and mineral laced chalky black fruits. The palate is silky showing a low alcohol, saline infused texture, with moderate sweetness and some brown sugar flavor. It's a little hollow on the mid palate and short on the finish, lacking energy and acidity it's showing older than 6 years.

2009 vintage

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Rhys, Skyline Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains

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