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2008 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Pinot Noir

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

December 17, 2023 - $76

Estimate

RATINGS

95Vinous / IWC

Pure, highly expressive aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, minerals, rose petal and spicecake. Wonderfully suave on entry, then vibrant and sappy in the middle palate, offering pungent raspberry, cherry and candied floral flavors...

93Burghound.com

...offers a lacy and pure mélange of cherry and blue berry fruit aromas cut with floral and mild wood notes that precede the backward and moderately austere flavors that are underpinned by firm but not aggressive tannins...

92-95Robert M. Parker Jr.

...possesses a big, sweet, powerful nose of raspberries, spring flowers, damp earth, and mossy, foresty vegetation. Sweet currants, pomegranates, and black raspberries also emerge on the palate of this full-bodied effort...

REGION

United States, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA includes high elevation territory in the counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo. The AVA follows the coast line from San Francisco to Monterey with elevations from 400 feet to 3,000 feet above sea level. There are 1,500 vineyard acres and the AVA was established in 1981. Despite the challenging terrain in these rugged mountains and hills, highly esteemed wineries have been located here since the early 20th century, when Paul Masson, a Frenchman by birth, started making sparkling wine in the area. By the 1970s vineyards were growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Numerous microclimates within the AVA offer viticulturists diverse growing conditions, and many varietals are grown successfully.

TYPE

Red Wine, Pinot Noir

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.