WTN: Rhys San Mateo PN

Rhys 2013 Pinot Noir, San Mateo County. From 750ml, 12.9%. "Declassified" grapes, I guess, from the Family Farm and Horseshoe (?) vineyards; chose this in preference to a Bearwallow from the same vintage, expecting it would be more expressive young. It certainly didn't seem closed up. Quite floral; moderately concentrated fruit leans in the direction of strawberry preserves and rhubarb at first, with a white-pepper accent; getting deeper and tending more toward cherry over two hours, eventually revealing a touch of earth, too; mostly what this shows is really lovely, velvety texture and integration, with just enough grip on the finish to suggest that it will continue to develop, too. Excellent.

[David M. Bueker]

The San Mateo is good stuff. I have bought a couple of vintages in half bottles, and they disappear with great speed.

There are 3 750s of the '10 lurking in the cellar at the Schloss. Should dig one out.

I've noticed Rhys does a lot of half-bottles and 500ml's -- the latter of which really appeal to me for weeknight sharing.