Picking up the Rhys's

N

Ned Hoey

Ned Hoey
Today was pick up day at the winery for anybody who bought from their most recent release offer.
The wines planned for fall release were available to taste so I figured I'd go, three pinot noirs and their first estate grown syrah.

The pinots were as one would expect from Rhys, restrained, elegant and under 14%. No surprise.
I had very low expectations for the syrah, It's been years since I had any CA syrah. I have to say though that the 2007 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Syrah was very good. Amazing, really. Nothing like the dark oaky
gobsmackers produced so often around here. Medium in color and weight it was most reminiscent of a fine St. Joseph, only less old world earth or soil character. It was also very clean, which made it seem more modern than many northern Rhones which I take no position on. Organic farming and indigenous yeasts and 15% new oak which was not at all intrusive. Claude might even have liked it.
 
originally posted by Ned Hoey:
It's been years since I had any CA syrah.
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All the talk about Steve Edmunds' wines around these parts and you've never had one of his Syrahs? You do realize, of course, that this puts your hipster status in question...
 
You know, it crossed my mind to acknowledge Steve, but It seemed less hipster.

It's been years, not never. Until I started buying some Rhys 3 years ago, I hadn't bought a bottle of CA wine since the nineties.
 
originally posted by Ned Hoey:
Until I started buying some Rhys 3 years ago, I hadn't bought a bottle of CA wine since the nineties.
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All the talk about Steve Edmunds' wines around these parts and you've never had one of his wines? You do realize, of course, that this puts your hipster status in question...
Best, Jim
 
While I'm hesitant to listen to recommendations from someone whose hipster status has been called into question for such good reason I'm really looking forward to trying the Horseshoe syrah. Their Horseshoe pinot is my second favorite of their pinots currently after the Home.

Their Alesia syrahs have been up and down in my experience. Some I've really liked (such as the 2003 Sonoma Coast), some I haven't cared for (such as the 2006 Fairview Ranch). So thanks for the advance review!
 
Although Kevin's passion is seemingly Pinot Noir. The 2008 barrel samples of Syrah were the best Rhys I have ever tried and the best Syrah from California.
 
originally posted by Robert Dentice:

Although Kevin's passion is seemingly Pinot Noir. The 2008 barrel samples of Syrah were the best Rhys I have ever tried and the best Syrah from California.
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Robert - are you now or have you ever been a fan of Steve's wines?
 
originally posted by Jay Miller:
originally posted by Robert Dentice:

Although Kevin's passion is seemingly Pinot Noir. The 2008 barrel samples of Syrah were the best Rhys I have ever tried and the best Syrah from California.
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Robert - are you now or have you ever been a fan of Steve's wines?
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Very big fan and I keep reminding myself to buy and drink more. Based on one tasting of the Rhys I wouldn't say they are similar but I think fans of Steve's wines would like the Rhys.
 
I tasted the 2007 Horseshoe Syrah as well and found it a bit tougher than I expected. Dense purple in color, but modest alcohol, which means that the finish is not glycerol-sweet. Winemaker Jeff Brinkman said that the Horseshoe was what I had tasted the previous year on a "Terroir Tour", but my notes tell me it was the new Skyline Syrah. The Skyline, at that time, was a softer, better balanced Syrah IMO, much silkier mouthfeel. Of course, who knows what has happened with another year of aging.

The 2008 Pinot from Rhys were also purple,dense, hard to drink at this age. Best to revisit, but clearly the stuffing is there...
 
Nice to see some folks here barrel sampled some of the '08 pinots.
The Skyline was probably my favorite of them but the Horseshoe was lovely also. 'Should be a fine vintage for Rhys.
Best, Jim
 
originally posted by Larry Stein:
originally posted by Ned Hoey:
It's been years since I had any CA syrah.
Click to expand...

All the talk about Steve Edmunds' wines around these parts and you've never had one of his Syrahs? You do realize, of course, that this puts your hipster status in question...
Click to expand...

A loyalty challenge eh? Before I get called before a tribunal, I will confess, again, that it has been years.
I used to buy ESJ back in the mid nineties (how's that for hipster cred?), until my attention turned exclusively to Europe. I can see that re-education will be in my future.

Jay,
The Alesia label will be retired after the final release this fall of the '08 Sonoma Coast pinot.

Carl,
This was my first attendance at one of these, I attributed that bit of firmness to extreme youth, but I
rarely taste wines this young. so it didn't seem like a concern. I was there towards the end, were you there earlier?
 
originally posted by Ned Hoey:
originally posted by Larry Stein:
originally posted by Ned Hoey:
It's been years since I had any CA syrah.
Click to expand...

All the talk about Steve Edmunds' wines around these parts and you've never had one of his Syrahs? You do realize, of course, that this puts your hipster status in question...
Click to expand...

Carl,
This was my first attendance at one of these, I attributed that bit of firmness to extreme youth, but I
rarely taste wines this young. so it didn't seem like a concern. I was there towards the end, were you there earlier?
Click to expand...
Yes, definitely just really young, so I would not read too much into things. However, I did have the impression that the 2007 showed better last year than these did (I believe I tasted them in March), but even then it may just mean these are going to be a bit more backward. It would be interesting to hear winemaker Jeff Brinkman and Kevin Harvey's take on it. I had to rush out fast to pick up my son, so did not get a chance to linger and hear their comments...
 
Nothing like the dark oaky gobsmackers produced so often around here. Medium in color and weight it was most reminiscent of a fine St. Joseph, only less old world earth or soil character. It was also very clean, which made it seem more modern than many northern Rhones which I take no position on. Organic farming and indigenous yeasts and 15% new oak which was not at all intrusive. Claude might even have liked it.
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It's actually less rare a style than you'd think. Look for cooler locations - Edna Valley, Sonoma Coast, vineyard with altitude (not attitude, note the L) - and restrained vinification. In addition to Steve's wines mentioned there is Domaine Alfred, Bonny Doon's le Pousseur, Cline Carneros, Russian Hill, Eaglepoint Ranch, Dutton Ranch 3 block.
 
originally posted by Jay Miller:
And more recent Copain and I'd assume Arcadian though I've never had one of their syrahs.
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I just had the latest Arcadian Syrah at Taste of the Valleys in Solvang (server gave me a quick pour after I'd tasted through the ABC lineup and, out of morbid curiosity, a Margerum blend) -- a bit too soft for my tastes, but overall a fairly restrained example of CA Syrah.

Mark Lipton
 
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