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2017 Rhys Horseshoe Hillside Pinot Noir, 1.5ltr

JD 97+

VN 95

WA 94

JG 94+

Not Currently In Auction

Estimate

RATINGS

97+ Jeb Dunnuck

...powerful, meaty bouquet of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, crushed rocks, and hints of iodine...rich, powerful, mineral-laced wine, yet the tannins here are incredibly polished...full-bodied richness, no hard edges, and a great finish.

95Vinous / IWC

...shows off notable freshness and purity of flavors. The Hillside is mostly a wine of textural depth and richness...whole range of dark red/purplish berry fruit notes open up in the glass...a Pinot of real power and resonance.

94The Wine Advocate

...gregarious nose of boysenberry, blueberry, strawberry and red cherry preserves with accents of bergamot, peppercorn, licorice, cinnamon stick, violet and dusty earth. It's light to medium-bodied and silky with concentrated, spicy fruits, a firm supporting frame and well-woven freshness, finishing very long and very spicy.

94+ John Gilman

...stellar nose of black plums, sweet dark berries, vinesmoke, a complex base of dark soil tones, a bit of black tea, gamebird and gentle savory notes in the upper register... On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and tangy, with a gorgeous core of fruit, excellent mineral drive, fine-grained tannins and outstanding length and grip on the nascently complex finish.

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.