WTN: Shoe In

[David M. Bueker]

• 2011 Rhys Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (5/14/2026)
  My last bottle of 2011 Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot, and no doubt the best. It still shows some of those piney green tones that I find in so many 2011 California Pinots, but in this case the green is more than counterbalanced by pleasing red fruit and deep earthy notes. Not a lot of tannin left, so definitely time to drink up, but with pleasure.

I like Rhys a lot but have never really tasted enough to have a clear take on vineyards. But know I really liked a couple Horseshoe bottlings at a recent Rhys dinner.

[David M. Bueker]

Horseshoe has been my favorite of their Pinots (and the Syrah is excellent) for a long time.