WTN: No Rhyson to Cry

[David M. Bueker]

• 2013 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Hillside - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (8/11/2021)
  Hey, let’s collect an expensive wine over multiple vintages before ever tasting it!
  
  Burgundy?
  
  No, it’s a California Pinot Noir!
  
  I really like Rhys Pinots from the Santa Cruz Mountains. I have been buying them since the 2006 vintage. Yes they have taken longer to mature than typical for California Pinot, but so what. I thought about opening this bottle five or six times over the last couple of years, and every time backed out at the last minute. Tonight was finally the night. Uncorked at 5, with a tiny bit poured off to check, and let the rest wait for an hour.
  
  I am glad I waited. About 90 minutes in this started to sing like Maria Callas. Up to that point it was good, but the outstanding elements were largely on the long finish. After some air (now at 2.5 hours) it was on full display from front to back. Tea, black raspberry, rosemary, warm tobacco, turned earth and more on the nose, and excellent depth through the palate. Still showing some tannin, so with the fruit depth there is more time for improvement, but I have zero regrets about opening one now. I also have more confidence in the Hillside program at Rhys, now that I have experience, rather than just faith.

[Jenise]

What is "the Hillside program"? I mean, different from their other pinots?

[David M. Bueker]

What is "the Hillside program"? I mean, different from their other pinots?

Parcel selections from the Alpine and Horseshoe vineyards. There was 2006 Alpine Hillside, but it really started with 2013.