WTN: Let's play Horseshoe

[Jenise]

2010 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains
Recent reports on this wine have not been good, so I decided it was time to open our one bottle. Reports ranged from diminished acidity to maderization. Our bottle: golden color; initial aromatics of advanced age but not, I repeat NOT, maderized. (I wonder if some people can't tell the difference.) Sure, more aged than expected, but the longer it was open the younger it got--flavors of musty canned pineapple that alarmed initially evolved nicely into fresh lemon meringue pie by the second hour underscored by that Santa Cruz granite minerality. Most people don't think of decanting white wines--this one needs it.

[David M. Bueker]

Glad you got a good bottle.

There have been so many reports of that wine being advanced/dead, and even Kevin Harvey saying it was never meant to be an ager due to the vintage.

Overall I think people are getting ahead of themselves, placing Rhys up on this pedestal with top White Burgundy (for the Chards), and forgetting hat they have a very short track record. Other wineries don't get that type of immediate credibility.

It's why I am continually looking in on the Pinot Noirs as well.

[Jenise]

I didn't realize how short their track record was. So many of these wineries quietly establish themselves among a small circle before I ever become aware of them. But yes, we had a good bottle--was interesting to watch it open up, and mentally we had an exceptionally youthful 07 Ceritas (Porter Bass vineyard) two weeks ago to compare it to so felt entitled to judge. Are you a Ceritas buyer?

[David M. Bueker]

I was a Ceritas buyer for a while, but I recently dropped them as part of cutting back. I like the wines, but I just don't drink that many, so why buy more.

The jettison list for this year (so far) includes Rhys, Littorai, Ceritas and Inman. More to come, but that's a significant chunk of change right there.

...I think people are getting ahead of themselves, placing Rhys up on this pedestal with top White Burgundy (for the Chards), and forgetting hat they have a very short track record. Other wineries don't get that type of immediate credibility.

David, it's not 'people' that are placing them on a pedestal, but rather the winery themselves, who often brag about their reviews and pricing them as Burgundy. If they were $40 wines, I don't think folks would complain, but as this is a $80 bottle, people have reason to complain.

That being said, I think the pinots will go the distance.

[Jenise]

David, it's not 'people' that are placing them on a pedestal, but rather the winery themselves, who often brag about their reviews and pricing them as Burgundy. If they were $40 wines, I don't think folks would complain, but as this is a $80 bottle, people have reason to complain.

Completely agree. This was my first Rhys, btw. The prices are hard to justify.

I go way back with Rhys and Alesia and, for the most part, have enjoyed their wines..dropped off the list when their prices exceeded my pain tolerance

[David M. Bueker]

I am not saying they should not complain.

I am saying that people need to be smarter about giving credit where none has yet been earned.

And the Chardonnays were still around $50 not so long ago, not $80, but that's besides the point.

And for what it's worth, I am essentially done buying Rhys as well. I have enough. More than enough.