- Practicing Biodynamic
- 100% Chardonnay
- Horseshoe Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains
- Planted in 2004 with a total of 17.5 acres, Horseshoe Ranch is Rhys’ most beautiful vineyard site
- less than 1/2 mile from Alpine vineyard
- Wente, Hyde and Mt Eden clones
- Monterey shale soils
- 1,450 – 1,500 ft. in elevation
- South facing slope
- Fermented in 20% new oak for about a year until dry, no racking or battonage
- Aged in tank for an additional 4-6 months before bottling
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2021
Country:
United States
Region:
California
Appellation:
Santa Cruz Mountains
Variety:
Chardonnay
Color:
White
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | US-RHY-32-21 | 12/750ml |
Press & Reviews
Vinous
Score
97
Date
2023-09-01
" The 2021 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard is a powerful, explosive white that demands patience. Crushed rocks, lemon peel, white flowers, mint and slate race across the palate, making a strong first impression. A huge mid-palate of fruit lies beyond, just waiting to unfurl. This tightly-coiled, mineral-drenched Chardonnay will be superb, in a few years' time."
Wine Advocate
Score
97
Date
2024-04-18
"At the apex of Rhys's outstanding array of Chardonnays, the 2021 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard is a modern classic. The nose unfolds slowly, but steadily ascends from the glass with scents of crushed stones, mandarin rind, pomelo and a subtle crŠme br–l,e richness that hangs in the background. The palate begins coiled and springlike, continuously expanding and adding dimension throughout the three days I spent with it. Simultaneously glossy, broad, angular and tense, it is the most texturally complex of the single-vineyard Chardonnays at this stage. This needs at least another five years in the cellar and should be on the ascent for a decade beyond that. A benchmark wine for the Santa Cruz Mountains."
Jeb Dunnuck
Score
96
Date
2024-06-28
"The 2021 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard has a notably more savory yet powerful style, with a lovely, lightly flinty reduction. A crystalline and savory wine, aromatically it has a briny and umami note of seaweed, with a note of ripe peaches underneath. Full-bodied and compact, with rich concentration, it heightens its saline profile even further from the rest of the range, with an extraordinary and long finish. Drink 2025-2038."
Wine Enthusiast
Score
95
Date
2023-12-01
"Crystal-clean aromas of polished river stones and tight Asian pear slices draw the nose into this single-vineyard expression. The palate manages to be extremely delicate and utterly expressive, forcing one to pay attention to appreciate the citrus and crisp melon flavors. ‡ Matt Kettmann"
Decanter
Score
92
Date
2024-08-07
"This wine opens to mildly reduced aromatics of smoky flint followed by mandarin skin, apricot and honeysuckle florals. The palate is rich and a bit rounder than the other Rhys Chardonnays. With fleshy peach and tangerine flavours, the wine offers a great minerality with seafoam salinity, crushed chalk and a finish of fruit-driven depth accented by almond and walnut notes."