2012-2013 Rhys "Alpine Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir Vertical

“Intensely perfumed, mineral-driven red berry, blood orange and potpourri aromas are complemented by deeper-pitched notes of cola and smoky Indian spices. Sweet, focused and light on its feet, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a silky, seamless texture. The mineral quality comes back on the endless finish, which is strikingly pure, focused and gently tannic. I was reminded of a high-end Chambolle-Musigny when I tasted this balanced but intensely flavored wine and suspect that it will age slowly and gracefully... (ST)” (05/2014)

“The 2012 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard is one of the more reticent, backward wines in the range today. Firm tannins provide the underlying framework for an impeccable, pure Pinot long on crystalline energy and intensity. The flavors really pulsate here, while expressive floral and savory overtones add an attractive upper register. This is a rare 2012 that is going to need at least a few years in bottle to show at its best. The Alpine was done with 50% whole clusters. (AG) 94+” (07/2014)

“The 2012 Alpine Vineyard has also turned out superbly well in this vintage, as the wine delivers a pure and complex nose of black cherries, fresh thyme, cigar smoke, espresso, stony soil tones and a lovely mix of savory elements in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and nicely reserved in personality, with fine soil signature, lovely concentration at the core, well-measured tannins and a very long, tangy and first rate finish. All this beauty needs is some time in the cellar to allow its secondary layers of complexity to begin to emerge. Fine, fine juice. (JG) 93+” (08/2014)

“Coming from a site close to where the Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from, the 2012 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard is more structured in 2012, with beautiful balance and focus in its whole cluster-influenced bouquet of Asian spices, smoked earth, black cherry and big mineral-like characteristics. Firm, tight, edgy and backwards, with good acidity and a medium to full-bodied, structured palate, this smoking Pinot Noir needs short-term cellaring, but will be long-lived. (JD) 93+” (04/2015)

“A subtle application of wood blends into the ripe plum and dark raspberry suffused nose where again there are pretty floral and spice notes. There is fine verve and a more elegant mouth feel to the delicious and relatively round medium weight flavors that possess fine depth and really lovely balance on the lingering finish. I really like the delivery as it's lacy but serious and like the straight Pinot Noir this should drink well young yet age effortlessly thanks to the impeccably good balance. *Outstanding*” (01/2015)

“Faces the Pacific. Racy and fresh with a really appetising green, but not unripe, streak. Super-clean finish with massive energy. 18/20 points (JR)” (02/2015)

“It was Jeremy Seysses of Burgundy’s Domaine Dujac who alerted me to the amazing things that Kevin Harvey and his team at Rhys are doing, and that seems appropriate as the wines certainly seem to nod to Dujac’s style. The 2013 Alpine Vineyard Pinot Noir is one of the most compelling young wines I’ve tasted from Rhys. Its youthful and savoury bouquet of crisp red and black cherry, fresh herbs, cinnamon and rich forest floor is followed on the palate by a wine of impressive vibrancy and depth. Rhys wines are built for the cellar, and the handful of older bottles I’ve encountered suggests that patience really is rewarded. (WK)” (02/2016)

“After being inspired by the range of 2019s from Rhys, I dipped into another half bottle of slightly older pinot in the hope that they might be stirring with some bottle age. But, the 2013 Alpine Vineyard bottling of pinot is still fairly closed down, even with extended aeration, and really demands more cellaring before pulling corks! The youthful nose delivers a beautifully precise bouquet of dark berries, black cherries, violets, bitter chocolate, a lovely base of minerality, sweet stem tones, a touch of cedar and a topnote of black tea. On the palate the wine is deep, pure and very transparent in personality, with a good core, lovely focus and grip, fine-grained tannins and a long, tangy and nascently complex finish.” (06/2021)

“The 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard has a touch of darker fruit in its strawberry, cassis, dusty soil and earthy bouquet. This flows to a beautifully textured, seamless Pinot Noir that has sound underlying structure, medium plus-bodied richness and a great finish. Possessing both fruit and structure, it should be accessible for all of its life. (JD)” (10/2015)

“Sweet red cherry, plum, mint, spice and expressive floral notes form a super-appealing backdrop of aromas and flavors in the 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard. Open-knit and super-expressive, the 2013 boasts superb textural balance and finesse. A final burst of red stone fruit and pomegranate hits the finely-knit, delicate finish. (AG)” (06/2015)

“Here too there is a pronounced floral character to the slightly riper aromas of various red berries, in particular currant, along with hints of sandalwood and Asian-style tea. The lilting and wonderfully refined medium weight flavors exude a fine bead of minerality on the dusty, vibrant, restrained and equally understated finish. There is a touch of backend austerity and like the Alpine Hillside, this sleekly muscular effort is going to require extended bottle age to realize its full potential. *Outstanding*” (04/2016)

“40% slope. Real richness on the nose and intensity on the palate without high alcohol. Maybe cuts off a little fast because it was bottled so recently. Clearly will be a great wine. 18/20 points (JR)” (02/2015)